Reaction rates Flashcards
Activation energy
The minimum energy required to start a chemical reaction OR The energy required to form the activated complex.
Activated complex
A high energy, unstable, temporary transition state between the reactants and the products.
A catalyst
A substance that increases the rate of a chemical reaction but remains unchanged at the end of the reaction.
The reaction rate of a chemical reaction
The change in concentration per unit time of either a reactant or product.
Heat of reaction (ΔH)
The net change in chemical potential energy of the system. ΔH > 0 for endothermic reactions and ΔH < 0 for exothermic reactions.
Exothermic reactions
Reactions which transform chemical potential energy into thermal energy.
Endothermic reactions
Reactions which transform thermal energy into chemical potential energy.
