Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Reaction Coordinate Diagram
A reaction coordinate diagram is a graphical representation that illustrates the energy changes during a chemical reaction. The x-axis typically represents the progress of the reaction, while the y-axis shows the energy of the system. Key features include the energy levels of reactants, products, intermediates, and transition states, which help visualize the energy barriers and overall energy change of the reaction.
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Exothermic Reaction
An exothermic reaction is a type of chemical reaction that releases energy, usually in the form of heat, to the surroundings. In a reaction coordinate diagram, this is depicted by the products being at a lower energy level than the reactants. The difference in energy between the reactants and products is represented as a negative change in Gibbs free energy (∆G°), indicating that the reaction is energetically favorable.
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Activation Energy (Eₐ)
Activation energy (Eₐ) is the minimum energy required for a reaction to occur, representing the energy barrier that must be overcome for reactants to transform into products. In a reaction coordinate diagram, it is illustrated as the energy difference between the reactants and the highest point of the transition state. Understanding activation energy is crucial for predicting reaction rates and the feasibility of a reaction.
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Introduction to free energy diagrams.