When substances react, they eventually form a mixture of reactants and products in

dynamic equilibrium. This dynamic equilibrium consists of a forward reaction, in

which substances react to give products, and reverse reactions occur at the same
rate or speed.

Chemical equilibrium is the state reached by a reaction mixture when the rates of
forward and reverse reactions have become equal. If you see the reaction mixture,
you see no net charge, although the forward and reverse reactions are continuing.
The continuing forward and reverse reactions make the equilibrium a dynamic
process.

In discussing gas-phase equilibria, it is often to convenient to write equilibrium

constant in terms of partial pressures of gases rather than concentrations. Note that
the concentration of a gas is proportional to its partial pressure at a fixed
temperature. You can see this by looking at the ideal gas law, PV=nRT, and solving
for n/V, which is the molar concentration of the gas. You get n/V = P/RT. In other
words, the molar concentration of a gas equal to its partial pressure divided by RT,
which is constant at a given temperature.

When more reactant is added to, or some product is removed from, an equilibrium
mixture, thereby changing the concentration of reactant or product, net reaction
occurs left to right (that is, in the forward direction) to give a new equilibrium, and
more products are produced.

Temperature has a profound effect on most reactions In the first place, reaction
rates usually increase with an increase in temperature, meaning that equilibrium is
reached sooner. Many gaseous reactions are sluggish or have imperceptible rates at
room temperature but speed up enough at higher temperature to become
commercially feasible processes.

For an endothermic reaction, the amounts of products are increased at equilibrium

by an increase in temperature. For an exothermic reaction, the amounts of products
are increased at equilibrium by a decrease in temperature.

LIGHRAYS, ZOMFG

The equilibrium position of a reaction left, right or somewhere in between is

determined by many factors: the initial concentrations, the relative energies of the
reactants and products, and the relative degree of organization of the reactants
and products. Energy and organization come into play because nature tries to
achieve minimum energy and maximum disorder.

The law of mass action is widely applicable. It correctly describes the equilibrium
behaviour of an amazing variety of chemical systems in solution and in the gas
phase.
Each set of equilibrium concentrations is called an equilibrium position. It is
essential to distinguish between the equilibrium constant and equilibrium positions
for a given reaction system. There is only one equilibrium constant for a particular
system at a particular temperature, but there are an infinite number of equilibrium
positions. The specific equilibrium position adopted by a system depends on the
initial concentrations, but the equilibrium constant does not.

We can qualitatively predict the effects of changes in concentration, pressure,

temperature on a system at equilibrium by using Le Chateliers principle, which
states that if a change is imposed on a system at equilibrium, the position of the
equilibrium will shift in a direction that tends to reduce the change. Although this
rule sometimes oversimplifies the situation, it works remarkably well.

Equilibrium is often defined as a state of balance. Dynamic equilibrium is a situation

wherein change was taking place even though an overall balance was maintained.
Chemical changes are taking place, but in such a way that there is no overall
change in the composition of the system.

The condition in which the concentrations of all reactants and products cease to
change with time is called equilibrium. Chemical equilibrium occurs when opposing
reactions are proceeding at equal rates: The rate at which products are formed from
the reactants equals the rate at which the reactants are formed for the products. For
equilibrium to occur, neither reactants nor products can escape the system.