Consider this chemical reaction, where moving from left to right represents moving forward in time. A five panel comic strip. In the first panel, there are ten large red spheres. In the second panel, there are 8 large red spheres and two small blue spheres. In the third panel, there are six large red spheres and four small blue spheres. In the fourth panel, there are four large red spheres and six small blue spheres. In the fifth panel, there are four large red spheres and six small blue spheres. At what point does the reaction first reach equilibrium

The reaction reaches equilibrium at the fourth panel.

Explanation:

Chemical Equilibrium is achieved when the overall properties the system seem to be constant, that is, stop changing.

Although, for chemical equilibrium, the right term for this equilibrium is dynamic equilibrium; the rate of forward reaction balances the rate of backward reaction, but concentrations can keep changing.

The point where equilibrium is achieved is when exactly when we reach the panel where the spheres that make up this panel is the same as the next panel and the next, that is, the specific colour and number of spheres start to become unchanged.

And from the description given in the question,

- In the first panel, there are ten large red spheres.

- In the second panel, there are 8 large red spheres and two small blue spheres.

- In the third panel, there are six large red spheres and four small blue spheres.

- In the fourth panel, there are four large red spheres and six small blue spheres.

- In the fifth panel, there are four large red spheres and six small blue spheres.

It is evident that the make-up of the spheres have become the same as at the fourth and fifth panel. This means that the first point where this final configuration of spheres first appeared is the fourth panel.

Hence, equilibrium is first reached at the fourth panel.

Hope this Helps!!!