BRAINCAKEReversible Reactions
A reversible reaction is one that can go in both directions: the reactants form the products, and the products can react to re-form the reactants. The symbol ⇌ shows that a reaction is reversible.
The reaction from left to right is the forward reaction, and from right to left is the backward (or reverse) reaction.
Example 1. Heating blue hydrated copper(II) sulfate drives off water and leaves white anhydrous copper(II) sulfate. Adding water to the white solid turns it blue again, and the mixture gets hot:
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Key terms in this lesson
- exothermic
- Describes a reaction that transfers energy to the surroundings, so the temperature of the surroundings increases.
- endothermic
- Describes a reaction that takes in energy from the surroundings, so the temperature of the surroundings decreases.
More in Reversible Reactions and Dynamic Equilibrium
- Dynamic Equilibrium
- Effect of Change in Concentration
- Effect of Change in Pressure
- Effect of Change in Temperature
- Effect of Catalysts
- Limitations of Predictions
- Homogeneous and Heterogeneous Equilibria
- The Equilibrium Law
All 18 lessons in Reversible Reactions and Dynamic Equilibrium · All Edexcel AS-level Chemistry topics