Transition State

Definition

The transition state refers to the highest-energy state of a molecule during a chemical reaction, which must be reached for the reaction to proceed.

Related terms

Reaction Coordinate Diagrams: These diagrams plot energy changes throughout reactions and often show transition states.

Intermediate State/Species: A species formed during but not present at either beginning or end of overall transformation; typically exists within higher energy than either reactant or product.

Potential Energy Surface: It represents 3D plot of potential energy versus different geometrical arrangements of atoms in molecules.