Chapter 16: Problem 4

Explain why the names activated complex and transition state are suitable for describing the highest energy point on a reaction's route from reactant to product.

Short Answer

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The highest energy point on a reaction's route from reactant to product is called 'activated complex' or 'transition state' because it represents a state where the energy has been 'activated' to a degree that the system is in the midst of a 'transition'. Old bonds are breaking and new ones are forming. It signifies the system's maximum energy before transforming into products, thus marking the critical transition in the reaction.

Step by step solution

Understanding Transition State

The term 'transition state' defines the configuration through which a system must pass while transitioning from reactants to products in chemical reactions. At this state, old bonds are breaking and new bonds are forming, and the system is at its highest energy level. It is also the state that not stable, meaning the molecules are confined in it for an insignificant amount of time before they either break apart to return to reactants or form product(s).

Understanding Activated Complex

An 'Activated Complex' also known as 'Transition State Complex' is a high-energy state that is intermediate in the formation of products from the reactants. This state is said to exist momentarily at the point of maximum potential energy, before the rearrangement of atomic nuclei into products. It is 'activated' because its formation requires the input of energy, usually in the form of heat.

Applying the Terms to Energy Landscape of a Chemical Reaction

In the energy diagram of a chemical reaction, there is a line that charts the progress from reactants to products. Initially, the line starts at a certain point that represents the energy of the reactants. As the reaction proceeds, the energy increases, reaching a peak. This peak represents the highest energy point in the reaction and is referred to as the 'transition state' or 'activated complex'. It's appropriate to refer to this point as such because it signifies the maximum energy that the system can possess before being 'activated' to transform into products, and also marks a critical 'transition' in the reaction from reactants to products.

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Explain why the names activated complex and transition state are suitable for describing the highest energy point on a reaction's route from reactant to product.

Short Answer

Step by step solution

Understanding Transition State

Understanding Activated Complex

Applying the Terms to Energy Landscape of a Chemical Reaction

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