Activation energy of a reaction is the energy needed to start a chemical reaction, and enzymes facilitate reactions by reducing this energy barrier. Essentially, enzymes make it easier for reactions to happen by providing an alternate pathway that requires less energy , thus accelerating the process without being consumed or changed themselves. The activation energy (E a), labeled Δ G ‡ in Figure 2, is the energy difference between the reactants and the activated complex, also known as transition state. In a chemical reaction, the transition state is defined as the highest-energy state of the system. activation energy , in chemistry, the minimum amount of energy that is required to activate atoms or molecules to a condition in which they can undergo chemical transformation or physical transport. Introduction to Activation Energy Activation energy is a fundamental concept in chemistry that plays a critical role in understanding how chemical reactions occur. At its core, activation energy (often denoted as Ea) is defined as the minimum amount of energy required for reactants to undergo a transformation into products. This energy barrier must be overcome for a reaction to take place, which is a key factor in determining reaction rates. To grasp the importance of activation energy , it's ...
