Skip to main content
Biology LibreTexts

Chemical Equilibrium - Part 1: Forward and Reverse Reactions

  • Page ID
    8161
  • \( \newcommand{\vecs}[1]{\overset { \scriptstyle \rightharpoonup} {\mathbf{#1}} } \) \( \newcommand{\vecd}[1]{\overset{-\!-\!\rightharpoonup}{\vphantom{a}\smash {#1}}} \)\(\newcommand{\id}{\mathrm{id}}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\) \( \newcommand{\kernel}{\mathrm{null}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\range}{\mathrm{range}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\RealPart}{\mathrm{Re}}\) \( \newcommand{\ImaginaryPart}{\mathrm{Im}}\) \( \newcommand{\Argument}{\mathrm{Arg}}\) \( \newcommand{\norm}[1]{\| #1 \|}\) \( \newcommand{\inner}[2]{\langle #1, #2 \rangle}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\) \(\newcommand{\id}{\mathrm{id}}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\) \( \newcommand{\kernel}{\mathrm{null}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\range}{\mathrm{range}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\RealPart}{\mathrm{Re}}\) \( \newcommand{\ImaginaryPart}{\mathrm{Im}}\) \( \newcommand{\Argument}{\mathrm{Arg}}\) \( \newcommand{\norm}[1]{\| #1 \|}\) \( \newcommand{\inner}[2]{\langle #1, #2 \rangle}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\)\(\newcommand{\AA}{\unicode[.8,0]{x212B}}\)

    Chemical equilibrium - Part 1: Forward and Reverse Reactions

    The concept of chemical equilibrium is critical to following several of the discussions that we have in Bis2a and indeed throughout biology and the sciences. It is difficult to completely describe the concept of chemical equilibrium without reference to the energy of a system but for the sake of simplicity let’s try to anyway and reserve the discussion of energy for another chapter. Let us, rather, begin developing our understanding of equilibrium by considering the reversible reaction below:

    reaction_ABD.png

    Hypothetical reaction #1: A hypothetical reaction involving compounds A, B and D. If we read this from left-to-right we would say that A and B come together to form a larger compound D. Reading the reaction from right-to-left we would say that compound D breaks down into smaller compounds A and B.

    We first need to define what is meant by a “reversible reaction”. This term “reversible” simply means that a reaction can proceed in both directions. That is, the things on the left side of the equation can react together to become the things on the right of the reaction AND the things on the right of the equation can also react together to become the things on the left side of the equation. Reactions in which the likelihood of the reaction happening in one of the two directions is vanishingly small - and thus only proceed in one direction small - are called irreversible reactions.

    To start our discussion of equilibrium we begin by considering a reaction that we posit is readily reversible. In this case, it is the reaction depicted above: the imaginary formation of compound D from compounds A and B. Since it is a reversible reaction we could also call it the decomposition of D into A and B. Let us, however, imagine an experiment in which we watch the reaction proceed from a starting point where only A and B are present.

    Example #1: Left-balanced reaction

    Hypothetical Reaction #1: time course

    pastedGraphic.png

    At time t = 0 (before the reaction starts) the reaction has 100 concentration units of compounds A and B and zero units of compound D. We now allow the reaction to proceed and observe the concentration of the three compounds over time (t=1, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, and 40 time units). Notice that as A and B react D forms. In fact, one can see D forming from t=0 all the way to t=25. After that time, however, the concentrations of A, B and D stop changing. Once the reaction reaches the point where the concentrations of the components stop changing we say that the reaction has reached equilibrium. Notice that the concentrations of A, B and D are not equal at equilibrium. In fact, the reaction seems left balanced so that there is more A and B than D.

    Note

    ****Common student misconception warning****

    Many students fall victim to the misconception that the concentrations of a reaction’s reactants and products must be equal at equilibrium. Given that the term equilibrium sounds a lot like the word “equal” this is not surprising. But as the experiment above tries to illustrate, this is NOT correct!

    Example #2: Right-balanced reaction

    We can examine a second hypothetical reaction, the synthesis of compound J from the compounds E and F.

    reaction_EFJ.png

    Hypothetical reaction #2: A hypothetical reaction involving compounds E, F and J. If we read this from left-to-right we would say that E and F come together to form a larger compound J. Reading the reaction from right-to-left we would say that compound J breaks down into smaller compounds E and F.

    The structure of the hypothetical reaction #2 looks identical to the that of hypothetical reaction #1 that we considered above - two things come together to make one bigger thing. We just need to assume, in this case, that E, F and J have different properties from A, B and D. Let’s imagine a similar experiment to the one described above and examine this data:

    Hypothetical Reaction #2: time course

    pastedGraphic_1.png


    In this case, the reaction also reaches equilibrium. This time, however, equilibrium occurs at around t=30. After that point the concentrations of E, F and J do not change. Note again, that the concentrations of E, F and J are not equal at equilibrium. By contrast to hypothetical reaction #1 (the ABD reaction), this time the concentration of J, the thing on the right side of the arrows, is at a higher concentration than E and F. We say that this for this reaction, equilibrium lies to the right.

    Four more points need to be made at this juncture.

    Point 1: Whether equilibrium for a reaction lies to the left or the right will be a function of the properties of the components of the reaction and the environmental conditions that the reaction is taking place in (e.g. temperature, pressure, etc.).

    Point 2: We can also talk about equilibrium using concepts of energy and we will do this soon - just not yet.

    Point 3: While hypothetical reactions #1 and #2 appear to reach a point where the reaction has “stopped” you should imagine that reactions are still happening even after equilibrium has been reached. At equilibrium the “forward” and “reverse” reactions are just happening at the same rate. That is, in example #2, at equilibrium J is forming from E and F at the same rate that it is breaking down into E and F. This explains how the concentrations of the compounds aren’t changing despite the fact that the reactions are still happening.

    Point 4: From this description of equilibrium we can define something we call the equilibrium constant. Typically the constant is represented by an uppercase K and may be written Keq. In terms of concentrations Keq is written as the mathematical product of the reaction product concentrations (stuff on the right) divided by the mathematical product of the reactant concentrations (stuff on the left). For example, Keq1 = [D]/[A][B] and Keq2 = [J]/[E][F]. The square brackets "[]" indicate “concentration of” whatever is inside the bracket.


    Chemical Equilibrium - Part 1: Forward and Reverse Reactions is shared under a not declared license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by LibreTexts.

    • Was this article helpful?