When a chemist speaks of an equilibrium, what does he or she mean? Specifically,
ID: 1017129 • Letter: W
Question
When a chemist speaks of an equilibrium, what does he or she mean? Specifically, what is equal in an equilibrium? A mountain river flows into a lake. The level of the lake varies depending on the amount of water from the lake also evaporates. On a certain day, the rate of flow into the lake from river was exactly equal to the rate of evaporation. The level of water in the lake remained constant. Did an equilibrium system exist on this day? Explain Chemical equilibrium are referred to as dynamic equilibrium What is meant by the term dynamic? Explain your answer on both the particulate and macroscopic levels.Explanation / Answer
1.
When a chemists speaks about equilibrium, he refers to either physical or chemical equilibrium.
An ice cube kept at room temperature melts to give water, the melting of ice does not happen immediately, it occurs with some rate. Similarly the water at -5 oC freezes to give ice, the freezing of water occurs with certain rate. At 0 oC the rate of melting of ice and rate of freezing of water becomes equal so that both the phases co-exist. This is an example of physical equilibrium
Similarly a reversible chemical reaction will be in equilibrium when rate of forward and backward reactions become equal.
At equilibrium rates are equal (i.e forward and backward rate)
2.
when the rates of inward (from mountain river) and outward (evaporation) water flow of lake are equal on a certain day, surely the equilbrium exists on that day.
3.
Chemical reactions are referred to has dynamic euilibrium, because incase of equilibrium both the forward and backward reactions will occur, but interestingly with equal rates. The composition of reactants and products will not change even if forward and backward reactions are not occuring, but this is not the case in equilibrium. Compositions will not change because of equal rates of forward and backward reactions. thats why an equilbrium is dynamic in nature. Dynamic means not static, not at rest.
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