How is chemical equilibrium defined?

Chemical equilibrium is defined as a state where the concentrations of both reactants and products remain constant over time. This does not mean that the reactants and products have stopped reacting altogether; instead, it indicates that the rates of the forward and reverse reactions have become equal. Therefore, even though the concentrations of the substances involved remain constant, they are not zero, and dynamic processes continue.

This definition clarifies that at equilibrium, there are no net changes in the concentrations of the reactants and products, which is a fundamental concept in understanding chemical reactions and their behavior in a closed system. The idea is that while the chemical reactions continue to occur, they do so in such a way that the overall concentrations stay the same, creating a balance in the system.