Dynamic Equilibrium

Lab Brief #2

🎯 Your mission

Set it up. Test it. Be amazed.

⚡ The twist

Nature loves to surprise the careful watcher.

What you'll learn

In a closed system, a reversible reaction reaches equilibrium when the forward and reverse rates are equal. The concentrations stop changing but both reactions continue — this is dynamic, not static. Open the system and equilibrium is never reached.

Key words

dynamic equilibrium
The state in which forward and reverse reaction rates are equal in a closed system.
closed system
A system from which no reactants or products can escape.

Make a hypothesis first

Before you start: write down what you think will happen, and why.

Say your guess out loud — then find out if you were right.

Get ready

🧰 What you need

two beakers
two measuring cylinders of different diameter
water
food colouring

Get ready

⚠️ Safety first

Mop spills at once to prevent slips.

Step 1 of 4 · Read

Think about what you just learned: say what "dynamic equilibrium" and "closed system" mean in your own words before you start.

Step 2 of 4 · Do

Model equilibrium with two beakers of water and two different-sized measuring cylinders, transferring simultaneously each round. Record volumes each round until they stop changing while transfers continue.

Step 3 of 4 · Observe

Record what actually happened, including anything that did not match what you expected.

Step 4 of 4 · Record

Write a conclusion that answers the question this lesson opened with, and state your uncertainty.

Question 1 of 2

At dynamic equilibrium, the forward and reverse reactions:

How sure are you?😐 maybe

Question 2 of 2

Equilibrium can only be reached in a system that is:

How sure are you?😐 maybe

Mind = blown

🔬 The more you look, the more nature shows you.

Nice work!

You got 0 of 2 right.

Next: Le Chatelier's Principle All lessons

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✨ More to explore

🌍 Where you see this in real life: This shows up in your everyday life more than you'd think.

🏆 Stretch challenge (try it this week): Try one experiment in real life this week — even a tiny one.

👨‍👩‍👧 For the dinner table: “What's the most surprising thing you learned today?”

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