I think you are on the right track as long as you understand what "when the concentrations of the reactants and products are the same."
If you have a reaction like
2A + B ==> A2B, the equilibrium is when the RATE of 2A + B to give A2B is the same as the RATE of A2B dissociating to give the 2A + B products. When equilibrium is attained the forward reaction (that's 2A + B to give A2B) is still going on and the reverse reaction (that's A2B ==> 2A + B) is still going on so the concentrations really ARE changing BUT the NET concentration of A, B, and A2B ARE NOT changing BECAUSE 2A + B are producing A2B at the same rate as A2B is producing 2A + B. So it isn't correct to say the concentrations are not changing because the both the forward and the reverse reaction are continuing but the net concentrations are not changing. The idea here is that at equilibrium you have a dynamic (an on-going reaction in both directions) equilibrium and not a static equilibrium. In other words the reactants don't produce A2B and then stop at some appropriate point and the A, B, and C molecules/compounds just sit there and look at each other. They continue to react but as long as the forward and reverse reaction rates are the same then that dynamic (moving) equilibrium keeps the net concentrations of A, B, and A2B the same. Hope this helps clear up any confusion. The concept of chemical dynamic equilibrium is an important concept and if you get that down pat it makes the next concepts easier to understand. I applaud you reaching out to make sure you have it under control.
hi everyone, i'm trying to study some chemistry on my own, and i'm trying to learn what a chemical equillibrium is, but i'm finding the concept kind of confusing.
i think that it's when the reactant molecules and the product molecules are still colliding, but the concentrations of the reactants and products are the same. in other words, it's when the reaction is complete.
do i have the right idea? thank you!
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Perhaps I should add that although the net concentrations of those reactants and products are the same I don't mean ALL of them are the same: i.e., the concentration of A probably will be different than the concentration of B and the concentration of C will be different from those of A an B. Depending upon the actual identity of A, B and C it is possible that one or more could be the same concentration.
thank you! this clears it up a lot!!!
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