Is Chemical Equilibrium a Dynamic Equilibrium: 7 Facts

In this article, the topic, “is chemical equilibrium a dynamic equilibrium” with several seven facts will be summarizing in a brief manner. In the equilibrium state the motion of the forward and backward reaction remain constant.

In the state of the dynamic equilibrium in the dynamic system the objects are always stays at moving motion. Products are broke into reactants and reactants of the process being again attached with the products. Objects are moved during the process but concentration of the product and concentration of the reactant remain unchanged.

Dynamic equilibrium:-

In the state of the dynamic equilibrium the process is done with in a dynamic closed system. With some properties of the objects the state of dynamic equilibrium is dependent. If any properties of the objects are changes during the process then the state of dynamic equilibrium is also changes. In the case of reversible reaction only dynamic equilibrium can be observed.

The properties which are responsible for changes the state of dynamic equilibrium are, temperature, pressure, density, specific heat and many more and the properties which are not depend upon the dynamic equilibrium state are, concentration, emissivity.

Example of dynamic equilibrium:-

From the definition of the dynamic equilibrium we can observe that the motion of the forward reaction and motion of the reverse reaction always stays at the same condition and the process will be not stopped.

In a room when hot air and cold air is entering in the same at that particular time the temperature of the room remain unchanged because when hot air and cold air enter to the room at the exact same time the net temperature of the room is constant so, no temperature changes is visible to the room. So, entering hot air and cold air in a room is an appropriate example of the dynamic equilibrium.

Another example of the dynamic equilibrium is running on the machine of treadmill maintaining the speed. When someone use treadmill machine at that time the movement of the leg is unchanged with the reverse motion of the treadmill. For this particular reason the motion of the legs and motion of the treadmill became constant there is no change of motion can be observe by anybody, so net motion remain same.

is chemical equilibrium a dynamic equilibrium
Image – running on the machine of treadmill;
Image Credit – Wikimedia Commons

So, we can easily say that the forward motion of the legs and backward motion of the treadmill became constant and stays at dynamic equilibrium position.

Chemical equilibrium:-

Chemical equilibrium can be explain as, the particular position of a system in which the concentration of the product and the concentration of the reactant remain unchanged with respect to a certain time and also any changes is not visible in the properties of the system.

The chemical equilibrium is states at the state of the dynamic equilibrium. In the chemical equilibrium the motion of the forward reaction and also the motion of the reverse reaction remain same for this reason the concentration of the product and concentration of the reactant is remains similar during the process.

Classification of chemical equilibrium:-

The chemical equilibrium can be classified in two categories. They are,

  • Homogenous chemical equilibrium
  • Heterogeneous chemical equilibrium

Homogenous chemical equilibrium:-

Homogenous chemical equilibrium can be derive as, in the chemical equilibrium reaction when the product and reactant stays at the similar phase.

Homogenous chemical equilibrium again can be classified in two categories. They are,

  • Reactions of the chemical in which the number of the molecules of the product and the number of the molecules of the reactant is same.
  • Reactions of the chemical in which the number of the molecules of the product and the number of the molecules of the reactant is not same.

Heterogeneous chemical equilibrium:-

Heterogeneous chemical equilibrium can be derive as, in the chemical equilibrium reaction when the product and reactant stays not at the similar phase.

Conditions for chemical equilibrium reaction:-

The conditions which are responsible for chemical equilibrium reaction are listed below,

  • Density
  • Specific heat capacity
  • The motion for the forward reaction
  • The motion for the backward reaction
  • Concentration of the product
  • Concentration of the reactant
  • The system should be present in the closed system
  • The process should be reversible
  • Similar and opposite force
  • Change in pressure
  • Change in temperature
  • Chemical components

Is chemical equilibrium dynamic or static?

Chemical equilibrium obviously is dynamic. From the definition of the chemical equilibrium we can get a clear concept that during the reaction the motion of the forward reaction and the motion of the reverse reaction are constant and the reaction will stay at continuous motion in the other case the reaction in the dynamic equilibrium state the motion of the forward reaction and the motion of the reverse reaction is same.

The concentration motion of the product and reactant is same in the dynamic equilibrium in a closed dynamic system.

Factors are affecting chemical equilibrium:-

In the way the factors are affecting chemical equilibrium their description is derive below,

  • Change in concentration
  • Change in pressure
  • Change in temperature
  • Addition of an inset gas
  • Effect of a catalyst

Change in concentration:

  • The concentration of the product or concentration of reactant added is released by the reaction which swallows the object which is taking away.
  • The concentration of the product or concentration of reactant eliminated is released by the reaction which is in the direction that restocks the object which is eliminated.
  • In the case, when the concentration of the product or concentration of reactant is change in the structure of the compound in the chemical equilibrium.

Change in pressure:

When volume is changes at that time pressure of the system is also changes. Pressure changes is affecting the number of molecules the products and the number of molecules of the reactant in the gaseous reaction. For this reason the reaction is not stays at the state of dynamic equilibrium.

So, pressure can affect chemical equilibrium.

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Image – Pressure as exerted by atoms or molecules colliding with the inner walls of a container. Collisions and the resulting forces are shown in red. Pressure is the sum of the collisional forces;
Image Credit – Wikimedia commons

Change in temperature:

Another factor which is affecting the chemical equilibrium is changing the temperature of a system. The relation between the temperature and chemical equilibrium is indirectly proportional to each other. Means if the temperature is increases in a dynamic system then the state of chemical equilibrium will be decreases and if the temperature is decreases in a dynamic system then the state of chemical equilibrium will be increases.

Addition of an inset gas:

If a insert gas like argon is added to the dynamic equilibrium system maintaining unchanged volume in this case the chemical equilibrium does not shown any changes in its properties but a insert gas is added to the  dynamic equilibrium system’s product or reactant in this case the chemical equilibrium shown a visible changes in its properties.

Effect of a catalyst:

A catalyst cannot play a vital to change the characteristics of chemical equilibrium. The only purpose of the catalyst is to increase the speed of the reaction. A catalyst can increases the speed of the forward reaction as well as, the speed of the backward reaction.

Why is chemical equilibrium a dynamic equilibrium?

In a chemical reaction, chemical equilibrium is the state in which both the reactants and products are present in concentrations which have no further tendency to change with time, so that there is no observable change in the properties of the system. This state results when the forward reaction proceeds at the same rate as the reverse reaction.

The reaction rates of the forward and backward reactions are generally not zero, but they are equal. Thus, there are no net changes in the concentrations of the reactants and products. Such a state is known as dynamic equilibrium.

When is chemical equilibrium a dynamic equilibrium?

In the field of the chemistry chemical equilibrium state as dynamic equilibrium only the reaction type will be reversible. In this particular time the motion of the products and reactants will be same means the net change will be not visible at all. The concentration motion of the products and reactants will be same also same.

How is chemical equilibrium related with dynamic equilibrium?

The term chemical equilibrium derive the balancing factor in between the products and reactants after a particular given reaction is reached at a state of position in which both product and reactant are creating at a unchanged motion. Chemical equilibrium is dynamic because there are many factors which are affecting what the proportion will be.

Why chemical equilibrium is not a static equilibrium?

By the nature chemical equilibrium is dynamic equilibrium, not static equilibrium.

In the static equilibrium the process of the reaction is only one directional and the motion for the reaction of the forward and backward is zero for the static equilibrium but in the chemical equilibrium the reaction will be reversible the motion for the reaction of the forward and backward is non zero.

Difference between Chemical Equilibrium and Dynamic Equilibrium:

The major difference in between the chemical equilibrium and dynamic equilibrium are listed below,

Chemical equilibriumDynamic equilibrium
No movement in the reaction of the substance is appearing in the state of chemical equilibrium.During the reaction movement of the substance is observe in the state of dynamic equilibrium.
Reaction is not continuing after obtaining the chemical equilibrium.Reaction is still continuing after obtaining the state of dynamic equilibrium.
No motion of the reaction for the forward and reverse after obtaining the chemical equilibrium because there the reaction is not continuing.The reaction is continuing but the quantity of the products and reactants remain constant because the motion of the forward and reverse reaction is constant.
Chemical equilibrium can be explain as, the particular position of a system in which the concentration of the product and the concentration of the reactant remain not unchanged with respect to a certain time.Dynamic equilibrium can be explain as, the particular position of a system in which the concentration of the product and the concentration of the reactant remain unchanged with respect to a certain time but objects are in movement.  

Examples of chemical equilibrium as dynamic equilibrium:

Combustion of coal is an appropriate example of chemical equilibrium as dynamic equilibrium. In the case when a coal is burned it transform into water vapor, ash and carbon dioxide in the presence of oxygen and heat. The coal is also contain carbon in state of solid but when it is burned coal produce carbon in form of gaseous.

So, we can say that the total amount of carbon is stays at the same position only their form is changed; means before burning the coal the amount of carbon and after burning the wood the amount of carbon remain unchanged so it stays at the state of dynamic equilibrium.

Another example of chemical equilibrium as dynamic equilibrium are listed below,

  • Combustion of wood
  • Sweating
  • Human respiration system

Conclusion:

An equilibrium is a state of a system which shows no net change. Chemical equilibrium obtains this state when the reaction stops while the dynamic equilibrium obtains this state when the forward and backward reaction rates are equal. Hence, we can say chemical equilibrium is dynamic in nature as both forward and reverse reactions.

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