Consider a sample of water in a closed container. When the reaction H₂O(l) H₂O(g)
Has reached equilibrium, what can we say about any specific water molecule?

Question

Consider a sample of water in a closed container. When the reaction H₂O(l) H₂O(g) Has reached equilibrium, what can we say about any specific water molecule?

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

At equilibrium, the reaction has reached a dynamic state in which the rate of the forward reaction (liquid to gas) is equal to the rate of the reverse reaction (gas to liquid). As a result, individual water molecules will be constantly transitioning between the liquid and gas phases, and there is no guarantee that a specific water molecule will remain in either phase permanently. Therefore, choice C is correct. Choices A and B suggest that all water molecules of a specific phase will remain in that phase, which is not true at equilibrium. Therefore, they are incorrect.

Consider a Sample of Water in a Closed Container