Question

What is the difference between equilibrium and steady state?

Answer 1

• In equilibrium, the concentrations of components are being held constant because the reaction rates are equal in the forward and backward reaction.

• In steady state, only some components are kept constant, because its synthesis rate and the consumption rate are equal. For this, the reactions need not necessarily be in equilibrium.

• In equilibrium, there is no net change in the whole system. However, at steady state, the reactants and products are changing; only the intermediate/s is constant.