Conditions
Perturb the system
Add or remove particles mid-run to see the system respond (Le Chatelier). Adding R/B pushes the forward reaction; adding RB pushes the reverse.
Time elapsed0.0 s
● R0
● B0
● RB0
Forward rate0 /s
Reverse rate0 /s
Not at equilibrium
Energy profile
Rate vs. time
Forward (orange) and reverse (blue) reaction events per second. At dynamic equilibrium both continue - but at equal rates.
Boltzmann distribution - forward (R+B colliding)
Same particle energies as the panel on the right - this is one gas at one temperature, not two. Red marks Ea(fwd): the energy an R–B collision needs to react. The shaded tail grows as temperature rises; only a catalyst moves the line itself.
Boltzmann distribution - reverse (RB breaking apart)
Purple marks Ea(rev): the energy an RB needs to break back apart. It's higher than Ea(fwd) by a fixed amount (ΔH) - because the reaction is exothermic, not because RB particles are somehow different from R+B pairs. That's why only a small sliver clears it: fewer successful "attempts" per particle, balanced at equilibrium by there being more RB particles making them.