🥼organic chemistry review

Reaction coordinate

Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated August 2025
Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated August 2025

Definition

A reaction coordinate is a parameter that represents progress along the pathway from reactants to products during a chemical reaction. It charts the energy changes that occur during the transformation, typically depicted on an energy diagram.

AP course connection

Topic 6.9: 6.9 Describing a Reaction: Energy Diagrams and Transition States

Unit 6

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