The regularities of reversible chain reactions in the equilibrium state

The characteristics of dynamic equilibrium states in the experimentally studied reversible chain reactions of quinoneimines with hydroquinones and in some reversible chain reactions with similar mechanisms are discussed. The concentrations of radicals and non-radical participants were calculated. The equilibrium concentrations of the same reaction participants depend only on the initial reactant concentrations, being independent of the number of chain initiation-chain termination steps in the reaction mechanism. The results of mathematical modeling of reversible chain reactions using the experimentally determined rate constants for elementary steps of a reaction in the quinoneimine-hydroquinone system are presented. Expressions relating the equilibrium constants of elementary steps to each other and to the equilibrium constant of the total stoichiometric reaction are derived. Examples of other actual reversible chain reactions are presented, indicating that such reactions are widespread.