energy of activation
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Noun:
- The minimum amount of energy required to initiate a chemical reaction or a physical process: The "energy of activation" is a specific quantity of energy that must be supplied to a system of atoms or molecules to allow a particular process, such as a chemical reaction or a particle emission, to begin.
Usage
- The term is used primarily in the fields of chemistry and physics to describe a critical threshold in reaction kinetics.
- It explains why some reactions require heat or other energy sources to start, even if they are ultimately energetically favorable.
Examples
- Noun:
- A catalyst works by lowering the energy of activation for a reaction, allowing it to proceed faster.
- The high energy of activation explains why this compound is stable at room temperature.
Advanced Usage
- "To overcome the energy of activation": To supply sufficient energy to meet or exceed this minimum threshold.
- The spark provided the necessary heat to overcome the energy of activation for the combustion reaction.
Variants and Related Words
- Activation Energy (n): This is the most common synonym and variant form. The terms "energy of activation" and "activation energy" are used interchangeably in scientific literature.
- The activation energy for this step was calculated from the experimental data.
Synonyms
- Activation Energy: The minimum energy needed for a reaction to occur.
Related Concepts (Not Phrasal Verbs or Idioms)
- Transition State: The high-energy, unstable state that reactants pass through during the conversion to products.
- Reaction Coordinate: A measure of the progress of a reaction, often plotted against energy to show the activation barrier.
- Catalyst: A substance that increases the rate of a reaction by lowering the energy of activation.
Noun
- the energy that an atomic system must acquire before a process (such as an emission or reaction) can occur
- catalysts are said to reduce the energy of activation during the transition phase of a reaction