Background image of landing

Unrivalled
Education
Solutions for your
Family

Can a system be at equilibrium if concentrations of reactants and products are unequal?

Certainly! Here’s an enhanced version of your content that improves clarity and readability while adhering to the formatting guidelines for mathematical expressions:


Yes, a system can achieve equilibrium even when the concentrations of reactants and products are not equal.

In the context of a chemical reaction, equilibrium does not imply that the concentrations of reactants and products are identical. Instead, equilibrium refers to the state where the rate of the forward reaction equals the rate of the reverse reaction, a condition known as dynamic equilibrium. At this stage, the concentrations of both reactants and products remain constant over time, although they may not be equal.

The equilibrium constant, denoted as KcK_c, quantifies the relationship between the concentrations of products and reactants at equilibrium. It is mathematically defined as:

Kc=[products]n[reactants]mK_c = \frac{[\text{products}]^{n}}{[\text{reactants}]^{m}}

where nn and mm are the stoichiometric coefficients of the products and reactants, respectively. If KcK_c is greater than 11, it indicates that the equilibrium position favors the products, meaning there are more products than reactants present at equilibrium. Conversely, if KcK_c is less than 11, the equilibrium position favors the reactants, indicating that there are more reactants than products present at equilibrium.

Le Chatelier’s principle further elucidates how a system at equilibrium responds to changes in concentration, temperature, or pressure. When an equilibrium system is disturbed, it will adjust to counteract the change and restore a new equilibrium state. For instance, if the concentration of a reactant is increased, the system will shift to the right, consuming the added reactant to produce more products, until a new equilibrium is established.

In summary, the concept of equilibrium in chemistry is not about achieving equal concentrations of reactants and products; rather, it signifies a state of balance where the rates of the forward and reverse reactions are equal. This balance can occur at varying concentrations of reactants and products, influenced by the specific nature of the reaction and the prevailing conditions.


This revision clarifies the concepts and enhances readability while ensuring proper formatting for mathematical expressions.

Answered by: Dr. William Davis
IB Chemistry Tutor
Medal Icon

100%

Globe Icon

Global

Crest Icon

97%

Professional Tutors

International Tuition

Independent School Entrance Success

All of our elite tutors are full-time professionals, with at least five years of tuition experience and over 5000 accrued teaching hours in their subject.

Based in Cambridge, with operations spanning the globe, we can provide our services to support your family anywhere.

Our families consistently gain offers from at least one of their target schools, including Eton, Harrow, Wellington and Wycombe Abbey.

Medal Icon

100%

Professional Tutors

All of our elite tutors are full-time professionals, with at least five years of tuition experience and over 5000 accrued teaching hours in their subject.

Globe Icon

Global

International Tuition

Based in Cambridge, with operations spanning the globe, we can provide our services to support your family anywhere.

Crest Icon

97%

Independent School Entrance Success

Our families consistently gain offers from at least one of their target schools, including Eton, Harrow, Wellington and Wycombe Abbey.

Book a free
30-minute consultation
session

At the Beyond Tutors we recognise that no two students are the same. 

That’s why we’ve transcended the traditional online tutoring model of cookie-cutter solutions to intricate educational problems. Instead, we devise a bespoke tutoring plan for each individual student, to support you on your path to academic success.

To help us understand your unique educational needs, we provide a free 30-minute consultation with one of our founding partners, so we can devise the tutoring plan that’s right for you.

To ensure we can best prepare for this consultation, we ask you to fill out the short form below.

Hire a Tutor

All the form fields are optional, but we ask you to provide as much information as possible so that we are in a better position to quickly meet your tutoring requirements.

Still have questions?
Let's get in touch