We often think of a chemical reaction as a one-way bridge where cars can only travel in a single direction, and--likewise--the reaction only proceeds from reactants to products. However, many chemical reactions actually act as two-way bridges, where cars can cross from one side to the other and then back again. In this type of reaction, some of the reactants turn into products, while some of the products simultaneously turn back into reactants.
In this lesson, you will learn more about these reactions that can proceed in both directions, including how to label them and what happens when something is changed about them.
Question
What are the reactants and products in the chemical reaction represented by this equation?
N2 (g) + 3 H2 (g) → 2 NH3 (g)
The reactants are nitrogen (N2) and hydrogen (H2) gases. The product is ammonia (NH3).
