what is energy of activation
Answers
The term Activation Energy was introduced in 1889 by Svante Arrhenius, a Swedish scientist. It is defined as the least possible amount of energy (minimum) which is required to start a reaction or the amount of energy available in a chemical system for a reaction to take place.
A reaction by which the variation of the free energy of Gibbs is less than zero, or a thermodynamically favored reaction can occur in a short time or in very long times.
The study of the time with which a reaction takes place affects the kinetic aspect.
In order for a reaction to take place, it is necessary that the reagents must collide with each other according to a given orientation to give rise to the formation of a reaction intermediate, said transition state or ativate complex having a certain energy.
The difference in energy between that of the intermediate and that of the reagents is called activation energy which is expressed in Joule or in Joule / mol or in kcal / mol.
The activation energy therefore represents the minimum energy needed to make a reaction take place and can be seen as a potential barrier.