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Explain chemical equilibrium as you would to a capable student, in 3-4 sentences.

Chemical equilibrium occurs when a reversible reaction reaches a state where the forward and reverse reactions happen at equal rates, so the concentrations of reactants and products remain constant over time. It's important to understand this is a *dynamic* equilibrium—molecules are still actively reacting in both directions, but there's no net change in amounts. The position of equilibrium (whether you have more products or reactants) depends on factors like temperature, pressure, and concentration, and can be predicted using the equilibrium constant K. Think of it like a busy doorway where people enter and exit at the same rate—the number of people in the room stays constant even though individuals keep moving.