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what is chemical equilibrium?
Chemical equilibrium applies to reactions which can occur in both directions.  Example:

CH4(g) + H2O(g) <--> CO(g) + 3H2(g)

The reaction can happen both ways. So after some of the products are created the products begin to react to form the reactants. At the beginning of the reaction, the rate that the reactants are changing into the products is higher than the rate that the products are changing into the reactants. Therefore, the net change is a higher number of products.

Even though the reactants are constantly forming products and vice-versa the amount of reactants and products does become steady. When the net change of the products and reactants is zero the reaction has reached equilibrium. The equilibrium is a dynamic equilibrium.  Dynamic equilibrium is when the amount of products and reactants are constant.


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