7.2 Direction of Reversible Reactions

Around Equilibrium

While reactions can start with no products and only reactants, they can also start with any combination of reactants and products. If the rate of the reverse reaction is greater than the rate of the forward reaction, a net gain of reactants will occur while the products decrease, and vice versa. In the next subunit, we will be able to quantify how far the current amount of reactants and products are from equilibrium, so we can see which way the reaction will shift, or convert to.