Reaction Rates and Energy Diagrams

Flashcards covering key terms and definitions related to reaction rates, energy diagrams, and associated concepts.

Rate

A measure of how quickly something is done, typically expressed with a numerator and denominator, such as boulders moved per hour.

Activation Energy

The minimum amount of energy required to start a chemical reaction; it represents the energy input needed to overcome a barrier.

Exothermic Reaction

A type of reaction that releases energy, resulting in products that have lower energy than the reactants.

Endothermic Reaction

A reaction that absorbs energy, resulting in products that have higher energy than the reactants.

Intermediate

A short-lived species formed during a chemical reaction, often found at the top of energy diagrams representing transition states.

Catalyst

A substance that increases the rate of a chemical reaction by lowering the activation energy without being consumed in the process.

Energy Diagram

A graphical representation of the energy changes during a chemical reaction, showing reactants, products, and the activation energy.

Transition State

A high-energy state during a reaction where old bonds are breaking and new bonds are forming, often represented as peaks in energy diagrams.