Question

How do you know if a reaction is at equilibrium?

Answer 1

1. The reaction constant Q is a measure of the amount of reactants and products present in the system at the given time. Comparing the value of Q with K will help us know in which direction the reaction needs to go to reach equilibrium. K is the equilibrium constant. There are three conditions
2. If $\mathrm{K}>\mathrm{Q}$, the reaction will proceed forward, converting the reactants to products.
3. If $\mathrm{K}<\mathrm{Q}$, the reaction will proceed in the reverse direction, converting the products to the reactants.
4. If $\mathrm{K}=\mathrm{Q}$, this indicates that the system is in equilibrium.