Answer:
-Over time, the rates of the forward and reverse reactions equalize.
-Initially, the concentration of products is low, so the rate of the reverse reaction is also low.
Explanation:
A chemical reaction is said to be reversible when the reactants forms the products, which in turn reacts together again to give rise to the reactants. In a reversible reaction, the formation of products from reactants occurs simultaneously with the reformation of the reactants from the products. For example:
The reversible reaction: A + B ⇆ C + D means;
A + B → C + D and C + D → A + B
The rate at which both forward and reverse reactions are taking place in closed system may be initially different but with time, it gets equal to form an equilibrium reaction. However, at first, only the rate of the forward reaction proceeds because the concentration of the product is low. Hence, the rate of reaction of the reverse reaction (product to reactants) is low as well.
In the reversible reaction above, the rate of the reverse reaction (C + D → A + B) will turn out low initially because the concentration of the products (C and D) are low. With time, the rates of the forward and reverse reaction becomes equal to form an EQUILIBRIUM or STABLE reaction.
