reversible reactions & equilibrium

• what does this symbol mean? ⇌

  reversible reaction
• the forward and backward reaction take place at different _____

  rates
• what speeds are the forward and backwards reactions?

  • at the beginning of the reaction, there will be loads of reactant but no products therefore the forward reaction will be really fast but the backward reaction won't have started yet
  • as the reactants turn into products the forward reaction will slow down and the backward reaction will speed up
  • after a while the rates will even out and the forwards and backwards reactions will be going at the exact same speed.
• what happens once the forwards and backwards reactions are going at the exact same speed?

  concentrations of the reactants and products won't change anymore, this means the reaction is at equilibrium
• what does it mean if a reversible reaction is at equilibrium?

  both reactions are still happening but they cancel each other out, this means there's no more overall change in the concentrations
• just because the concentrations of the reactants and products are constant does not mean they are the ____

  same
• if there are more products on the right of the reaction compared to the reactants on the left, where will the equilibrium be positioned?


  it lies to the right
• when does the position of equilibrium change?

  depending on the conditions.
• when can equilibrium be reached in a reversible reaction?

  only in a closed system where none of the reactants or products can escape. this is because if reactants and products kept escaping it would never reach equilibrium.
• what is a closed system?

  some kind of sealed environment where no reactions or products can escape
• reversible reactions are always exothermic in one _________ and endothermic in the other.

  direction