Reversible Reactions

• In some chemical reactions, the products of the reaction can react to produce the original reactants - reversible reactions

  • the direction of the reaction can be changed by changing the conditions of the reaction
• Symbolised by a double headed arrow in a chemical equation
• If a reversible reaction is endothermic one way, it is exothermic in the opposite direction

  • the same amount of energy is transferred each way
• When a reversible reaction occurs in a closed system, equilibrium is reached when the reactions occur at exactly the same rate in each direction