At equilibrium, a graph showing reactant and product concentration versus time will have which of these characteristics?
a) an increasing slope for both reactant and product
b) a decreasing slope for both reactant and product
c) a decreasing slope for reactant and an increasing slope for product
d) an increasing slope for reactant and a decreasing slope for product
e) a zero slope for both the reactant and the product
e) a zero slope for both the reactant and the product
are you sure?
I apologize for the confusion. I misunderstood your question. At equilibrium, the graph of reactant and product concentration versus time will have a zero slope for both the reactant and the product. This is because at equilibrium, the rate of the forward reaction is equal to the rate of the reverse reaction, resulting in a constant concentration of both reactants and products. Therefore, the correct answer is e) a zero slope for both the reactant and the product.
To determine the characteristics of a graph showing reactant and product concentration versus time at equilibrium, we need to understand the concept of equilibrium and the changes in concentrations over time.
At equilibrium, the forward and reverse reactions of a chemical reaction occur at equal rates, meaning that the concentrations of reactants and products no longer change. This state is often represented by a dynamic balance where reactant molecules are continuously converting into product molecules and vice versa.
Based on this understanding, the correct answer is:
e) a zero slope for both the reactant and the product.
At equilibrium, the concentrations of both reactants and products remain constant over time. This is shown by a flat line or a zero slope on the graph. The graph becomes horizontal as the system reaches a stable state, indicating that there is no net change in the concentrations of reactants and products.
It's important to note that the other answer choices, such as options a) through d) suggesting increasing or decreasing slopes for either reactant or product, do not represent the characteristics of a graph at equilibrium since they imply changes in concentration, which contradict the definition of equilibrium.