What factors affect the yield of chemical reactions?Dynamic equilibrium
In a reversible reaction, the products can react to produce the original reactants. The conditions chosen for an industrial reaction are related to producing an acceptable yield in an acceptable time.
If a chemical reaction happens in a container where none of the reactantA substance that reacts together with another substance to form products during a chemical reaction. or productA substance formed in a chemical reaction. can escape, this is a closed systemIn chemistry, a system in which no substances can enter or leave during a reaction.. reversible reactionA chemical reaction which can go both ways. that happen in a closed system eventually reach dynamic equilibriumDescribing the position attained in a reversible reaction when the proportions of reactants and products stay the same. The term 鈥榙ynamic鈥 emphasises that the forward and the backward reactions continue to occur (at the same rate)..
At equilibrium, the concentrations of reactants and products do not change. But the forward and reverse reactions have not stopped - they are still going on, and at the same rate as each other.
Because they are taking place at the same rate (speed), the reactants are turning into products at the same speed as the products are turning back into reactants.
An analogy for dynamic equilibrium
Imagine walking the wrong way on an escalator - walking at the same speed as the escalator but in the opposite direction. Your legs are still walking forwards, and the escalator continues to move backwards. However, the net result is that you stay in exactly the same place. This is an example of equilibrium. It is a dynamic equilibrium because your legs and the escalator are still moving.