Table of Contents
What does it mean for a cell to be in equilibrium?
Equilibrium by definition is the state of a chemical reaction in which its forward and reverse reactions occur at equal rates so that the concentration of the reactants and products does not change with time; however, in the living organisms, equilibrium is hardly achieved since the condition is always changing.
How do cells maintain equilibrium?
By diffusion of water or solutes, osmotic balance ensures that optimal concentrations of electrolytes and non-electrolytes are maintained in cells, body tissues, and in interstitial fluid. Solutes or water move across a semi-permeable membrane, causing solutions on either side of it to equalize in concentration.
What would the figure look like when equilibrium is reached?
Predict What will the apparatus shown in Figure 7-4 look like when equilibrium is reached? It will not be trapped on either side but continues to be exchanged equally from side to side.
When the process of diffusion reaches an equilibrium state?
Equilibrium is reached when there is a uniform distribution of solvent particles or when there is an equal concentration of solute on each side of a membrane.
How is equilibrium in diffusion achieved in this experiment?
Diffusion across a membrane Eventually, the concentration of the molecules on each side of the cell membrane will be the same and particles will be going back and forth through the membrane at the same rate. At that point, equilibrium is reached.
What determines equilibrium potential?
The value of the equilibrium potential for any ion depends upon the concentration gradient for that ion across the membrane. If the concentrations on the two sides were equal, the force of the concentration gradient would be zero, and the equilibrium potential would also be zero.
What does it mean when a cell has reached equilibrium?
It means that the reaction has reached a point where the concentrations of the reactant and product are unchanging with time, because the forward and backward reactions have the same rate. At what point in the process of diffusion is equilibrium reached?
Which is the equilibrium constant of a reaction?
At equilibrium, the reaction quotient is the equilibrium constant. So, if you know the half-reactions of the cell and the temperature, you can solve for the cell potential and thus for the equilibrium constant. What is the equilibrium constant of the combined cell reaction at 25 C?
What does it mean when a substance reaches equilibrium?
At equilibrium, movement of molecules does not stop. Also question is, what does it mean when a substance reaches equilibrium? A chemical reaction is in equilibrium when the concentrations of reactants and products are constant – their ratio does not vary.
When is equilibrium reached in a liquid membrane?
Ernest Z. Answer: Equilibrium is reached when there is a uniform distribution of solvent particles or when there is an equal concentration of solute on each side of a membrane.