What characteristics define a chemical system in equilibrium?

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Answer 1 · 2016-07-06T15:23:29

Equality of forward and reverse rates.

For the reaction,

#A+BrarrC+D#;

there is a forward rate, #K_f[A][B]#; and a reverse rate, #K_r[C][D]#.

Equilibrium is defined the equality of forward and reverse rates.

i.e. #K_f[A][B]##=##K_r[C][D]#

Or, #K_f/K_r# #=# #([C][D])/([A][B])#

And #K_f/K_r# #=# #K_(eq)#, #"the equilibrium constant"#.