Activation energy is the minimum amount of energy required for a chemical reaction to occur. It is the energy barrier that must be overcome for the reactant molecules to convert into products. This energy is needed to break the existing bonds in the reactant molecules and form new bonds in the product molecules.
A catalyst is a substance that increases the rate of a chemical reaction by lowering the activation energy. It does not get consumed or permanently changed in the reaction. A catalyst provides an alternative reaction pathway with a lower activation energy, making it easier for the reactant molecules to reach their transition state and form products. By lowering the activation energy, a catalyst speeds up the reaction process without being consumed itself.
What is activation energy, and how does a catalyst affect it?
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What is activation energy
Activation energy is the minimum amount of energy required for a chemical reaction to occur. It is the energy threshold that must be surpassed for the reactant molecules to undergo a chemical transformation and convert into products. Activation energy is necessary to break the existing bonds in the reactant molecules, allowing them to come together in the right orientation and form new bonds to create the products. Essentially, it is the energy barrier that must be overcome for a reaction to proceed.
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