Activation energy

Definition

Activation energy is the minimum amount of energy required to initiate a chemical reaction in organic chemistry. It represents the barrier that reactants must overcome to be transformed into products.

Related terms

Transition State:

The high-energy state during a chemical reaction where reactants are in the process of being converted into products.

Energy Diagram:

A graphical representation showing the energy levels of reactants and products, along with the activation energy for a given reaction.

Catalyst:

A substance that lowers the activation energy of a reaction, thereby speeding up the reaction without being consumed by it