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The answer to your question is "True" and "False."

Let's suppose that there is a chemical compound in solution in one beaker and a second chemical compound in solution in a second beaker, and it is known that the two compounds react, but not completely, because the chemical reaction is reversible.

We'll have to assume that the two solutions are completely mixed almost instantly after they are added together, and there are ways to do this, or that the forward and reverse reactions are very slow. Also, since the reaction is reversible, which compounds are the "reactants" and which ones are the "products" depends on how the chemical equation is written. The convention is that the compounds (or compound) written on the left side of the chemical equation are called the "reactants."

Right when the two solutions are mixed, there are no products available yet to react via the reverse reaction to re-form the reactants. Therefore, even though the reaction is reversiblle, the only reaction that can occur is the forward reaction, that is the reaction of reactants to products.

As soon as any product molecules are formed, some of them will react via the reverse reaction to re-form some of the the reactants. However, the concentration of the products will be very low a very short time after the reactants are mixed, which means that the reverse reaction will probably be slower than the forward reaction. This is not always the case because it depends on the relative rates of the forward and reverse reactions.

I cannot write the equilibrium equations for the forward and reverse reactions here because they would get all messed up when this answer is saved. If you have not yet learned how to do this, it is definitely in your text book. The two most important things to learn and understand are: 1) All reversible reactions will eventually reach an equilibrium (at a given temperature), which is the point where the concentrations of the reactants and the concentration of the products are constant. The forward and reverse reactions are still taking place, but there is no net change in the concentration of any of the compounds involved in the reactions. 2) This is obvious if you think about it a little; the ratio of the forward and reverse equilibrium equations is equal to the ratio of the forward and reverse rate constants. This ration is usually denoted as k1/k-1.

To summarize, the answer to your question is "True" only during a [usually] extremely brief time immediately after the reactants are first mixed together. At all times afterwards, the answer to your question is "False."

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Related Questions

A reaction in which products can react to re-form reactants is?

A chemical reaction in which the products re-form the original reactants is called a reversible reaction.


In what kind of reaction can the products form the reactants?

In a reversible reaction, the products can convert back into the reactants given appropriate conditions. This is often seen in chemical equilibrium where the forward and reverse reactions occur at the same rate.


A chemical reaction whose products recombine to produce reactants is a?

reversible reaction. It is a reaction that can proceed in both the forward and reverse directions, creating a dynamic equilibrium where reactants and products are constantly interconverting.


When a chemical reaction proceeds in both directions the reaction is?

When a chemical reaction proceeds in both directions, it is referred to as a reversible reaction. In a reversible reaction, reactants are converted into products, and products can also react to form reactants. This results in a dynamic equilibrium where the rates of the forward and reverse reactions are equal.


A rection in which products can react to reform reactants is?

A reversible reaction. In a reversible reaction, the products can react with each other to reform the original reactants. This type of reaction can proceed in both the forward and reverse directions.


Why don't the amount of reactants and products change in a reversible reaction?

The "amounts" of reactants and products DO change in a reversible reaction. What doesn't change is the concentration of these reactants and products AT EQUILIBRIUM. And also what does not change is the total mass of the system.


Why the amounts of reactants and products do not change in a reversible reaction?

The amount of reactants and products do not change in reversible reactions because, in a chemical reaction, matter is neither created nor destroyed -- it is only rearranged. This is the law of conservation of matter.


What is a change called in which the products are the same as the reactants?

A change in which the products are the same as the reactants is called a reversible reaction or an equilibrium reaction. This means that the reaction can proceed in both the forward and reverse directions, resulting in a dynamic balance between reactants and products.


What is the difference between a reversible reaction and a reaction that goes to completion?

The reactions in which the products can recombine to form reactants are called reversible reactions. These reactions never go to completion. They are represented by a double arrow between reactants and products.


Why the amount of reactants and product change in a reversible reaction?

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What are substance you start with in a chemical reaction called?

The reactants


How would someone represent that a chemical reaction was reversible?

arrows between the reactants and products pointing both backwards and forwards.