A state of balance with little or no net change is called?

• A. Equilibrium
• B. Homeostasis
• C. Diffusion
• D. Vesicle

Answer: (A)

Equilibrium is a state where opposing processes balance, producing little or no net change over time. In a system at equilibrium, the rates of the forward and reverse processes are equal, so the concentrations or conditions remain constant even though particles may still be moving. This distinction helps: diffusion, for example, is the movement of particles from high to low concentration, and it can lead a system to equilibrium, but diffusion itself is a process, not the final state. Homeostasis refers to a living organism actively maintaining stable internal conditions, which is about regulation and stability, not the exact balance of reactions in a closed system. A vesicle is simply a membrane-bound compartment and not a state of balance. So the term that best captures a balanced condition with little or no net change is equilibrium.