What is the relationship between equilibrium constant and reaction rate

Question

If the equilibrium constant is very small, does this mean that the rate of the reaction is slow?

Answer 1

While the two factors are related, it is at best an indirect relationship.  Other factors you have to consider are the mechanism of the reaction, the entropy advantage or disadvantage related to the reaction, and the presence of higher or lower concentrations of reactants.  Knowing only the equilibrium constant, you cannot immediately derive the reaction rate or vice versa.  It all figures into the mix, but in a decidedly non-trivial way.

Answer 2

No the 2 are UNRELATED! The rate of the reaction is determined by the activation energy, the equilibrium constant just compares the energies of the starting materials and the products.

Answer 3

Equilibrium constant K and reaction constants k1 (forward reaction) and k2 backwardd reaction) are related .

K= k1/k2

So the equilibrium constant doesn't say anything about the speed of reaction.

Example: K=2= 2/1 ( This would be a very fast reaction)

and K=2= 0.002/0.001(This would be a slow reaction)