activation energy
In the Arrhenius equation, the activation energy (E) represents the minimum amount of energy required to transform reactants into products in a chemical reaction. On a potential energy curve, the value of the activation energy is equivalent to the difference in potential energy between particles in an intermediate configuration (known as the activated complex, or transition state) and particles of reactants in their initial state. The activation energy thus can be visualized as a barrier that must be overcome by reactants before products can be formed.
chemical kinetics
- Related Topics:
- reaction rate
- physical chemistry
- Notable Honorees:
- Sir Cyril Norman Hinshelwood
chemical kinetics, the branch of physical chemistry that is concerned with understanding the rates of chemical reactions. Chemical kinetics relates to many aspects of cosmology, geology, biology, engineering, and even psychology and thus has far-reaching implications. The principles of chemical kinetics apply to purely physical processes as well as to chemical reactions. One reason for the importance of kinetics is that it provides evidence for the mechanisms of chemical processes. Besides being of intrinsic scientific interest, knowledge of reaction mechanisms is of practical use in deciding what is the most effective way of causing a reaction to occur. Many commercial ...(100 of 4374 words)