How long a reversible equilibrium reaction will take place and what are the conditions required to maintain the equilibrium and the reversible reaction?
Answers
Equilibrium
If a chemical reaction happens in a container where one or more of the reactants or products can escape, you have an open system.
If a chemical reaction happens in a container where none of the reactants or products can escape, you have a closed system. Reversible reactions that happen in a closed system eventually reach equilibrium.
At equilibrium, the concentrations of reactants and products do not change. But the forward and reverse reactions have not stopped - they are still going on, and at the same rate as each other.
Imagine walking the wrong way on an escalator - at the same speed as the escalator but in the opposite direction. Your legs are still walking forwards, and the escalator continues to move backwards. However, the net result is that you stay in exactly the same place. This is an example of equilibrium.