Section: STEM · ChemistryDifficulty: Medium
Activation Energy
USUK
The minimum energy required to start a chemical reaction.
Also: Ea · energy barrier
Definition
Activation energy is the minimum amount of energy that reacting molecules must possess for a chemical reaction to occur. It represents the energy barrier that must be overcome for reactants to be converted into products. Catalysts lower the activation energy of a reaction, increasing the reaction rate without being consumed. The concept is central to understanding reaction kinetics and enzyme function.
Example
“Striking a match provides the activation energy needed to ignite the phosphorus sulfide in the match head; without this initial energy input, the chemicals would remain stable and unreacted.”
Synonyms
- energy barrier
- reaction threshold
- Ea
Antonyms / Opposites
- product stability
- zero barrier
Images
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