Chemical equilibrium is relatively rare in living cells because metabolic pathways are interconnected. Which of the following statements describes an example of a reaction that may be at chemical equilibrium in a cell?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Chemical equilibrium is a state in which the forward and reverse reactions occur at equal rates, meaning that the concentrations of reactants and products remain constant over time. In a living cell, metabolic pathways are interconnected, so reactions are continuously being catalyzed in different directions. This prevents many reactions from reaching equilibrium. However, there may be some reactions in the cell that are not being actively produced or consumed by any metabolic pathway at a given time, allowing them to reach equilibrium. In this scenario, neither the reactants nor the products are being preferentially produced or consumed, so the concentrations of both remain constant. Thus, option C is the correct choice.

Chemical Equilibrium Is Relatively Rare in Living Cells Because Metabolic