What is the Difference Between Physical and Chemical Equilibrium?

The main difference between physical and chemical equilibrium lies in the nature of the system and the changes that occur during the process.

Physical Equilibrium:

• It is a state of equilibrium where the physical state of the system remains unchanged.
• It involves phase changes, such as the transition between solid, liquid, and gas phases.
• Examples of physical equilibrium include the formation of dew and the vaporization of water.

Chemical Equilibrium:

• It is a state of equilibrium where the concentrations of reactants and products do not fluctuate during the course of a reaction.
• It involves chemical reactions, where the rates of the forward and reverse reactions become equal, resulting in no net change.
• Examples of chemical equilibrium include the reaction of hydrogen (H2) and iodine (I2) to form hydrogen iodide (HI) and the reaction of carbon dioxide (CO2) with water (H2O) to form carbonic acid (H2CO3).

In summary, physical equilibrium deals with changes in the physical state of a system, while chemical equilibrium involves changes in the concentrations of reactants and products in a chemical reaction.

Comparative Table: Physical vs Chemical Equilibrium

Here is a table comparing the differences between physical and chemical equilibrium:

Physical equilibrium refers to the state of balance that arises between two or more phases or physical states of the same substance, such as the equilibrium between ice and water or water vapor and liquid water. On the other hand, chemical equilibrium refers to the state in which the concentrations of reactants and products remain constant, and it involves equal rates of forward and backward reactions.