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Equilibrium - GCSE Chemistry Definition

Reviewed by: Richard Boole

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Equilibrium in chemistry refers to a state when a reversible reaction occurs at the same rate in the forward and backward directions. This means that the amounts of reactants and products stay constant over time. Imagine it like a balanced see-saw, where neither side tips over because they are equal. This is important when studying reactions because it helps us understand how different conditions, like temperature and pressure, can affect chemical processes.

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Richard Boole

Reviewer: Richard Boole

Expertise: Chemistry Content Creator

Richard has taught Chemistry for over 15 years as well as working as a science tutor, examiner, content creator and author. He wasn’t the greatest at exams and only discovered how to revise in his final year at university. That knowledge made him want to help students learn how to revise, challenge them to think about what they actually know and hopefully succeed; so here he is, happily, at SME.

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