When a reaction reaches equilibrium,
A) delta Go is equal to zero.
B) delta G is equal to zero.
C) no substrate is converted to product.
D) no product can be converted back to substrate.
E) the reaction becomes temperature independent.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

When a reaction reaches equilibrium, the free energy change (delta G) is equal to zero, indicating that the forward and reverse reactions are occurring at the same rate. However, delta Go may not be equal to zero because it reflects the standard free energy change under standard conditions, whereas the actual conditions of the reaction may vary. Equilibrium does not necessarily mean that no substrate is converted to product, as it simply indicates that the forward and reverse reactions are occurring at equal rates. Additionally, equilibrium does not mean that no product can be converted back to substrate, as the reverse reaction is still possible, although it occurs at the same rate as the forward reaction. Finally, the temperature dependence of the reaction depends on factors such as the activation energy and entropy, and is not necessarily affected by reaching equilibrium.

When a Reaction Reaches Equilibrium