The
principle of microscopic reversibility at equilibrium states that, in a system at equilibrium, any molecular process and
the reverse of that process occur, on the average, at the same rate. This definition
corresponds to the statement of the principle that was given by R.C. Tolman in 1924.
However, many workers have interchanged the meanings of microscopic reversibility
and
detailed balance, and it seems best now to regard the two, which are closely related, as synonymous.
Source:
PAC, 1996, 68, 149
(A glossary of terms used in chemical kinetics, including reaction dynamics (IUPAC
Recommendations 1996))
on page 173
Cite as:
IUPAC. Compendium of Chemical Terminology, 2nd ed. (the "Gold Book"). Compiled by
A. D. McNaught and A. Wilkinson. Blackwell Scientific Publications, Oxford (1997).
XML on-line corrected version: http://goldbook.iupac.org (2006-) created by M. Nic,
J. Jirat, B. Kosata; updates compiled by A. Jenkins. ISBN 0-9678550-9-8.
https://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.
