3 min read•june 18, 2024
Jed Quiaoit
Jed Quiaoit
In , the transformation of into often involves multiple intermediate steps, known as . These elementary reactions can be combined to describe the overall reaction through a , which shows the reactants, products, and their respective .
The chemical equation provides a compact representation of the reaction and allows for predictions about the and of the reaction based on the individual rates of the elementary reactions. 📞
As alluded to above, a is a graphical representation of the and in a multistep reaction. It typically shows the of the reactants and products relative to the reaction coordinate on the y-axis and the reaction progress on the x-axis. The following steps can be taken to represent the activation energy and overall energy change in a multistep reaction with a reaction energy profile: 📦
Having a comprehensive understanding of the energy changes that occur during each of the elementary reactions in a is crucial for constructing a reaction energy profile for a multistep reaction.
By having knowledge of the energetics of each elementary reaction in the mechanism, one can determine the highest energy barrier or transition state, the activation energy required to overcome this barrier, and the overall energy change that occurs during the reaction. This information can then be incorporated into the energy profile, which allows for a better understanding of the energetics of the reaction and the factors that influence its rate and outcome. ⚡
Reactants are the starting substances that react to form new substances. They are written on the left-hand side of a chemical equation.
are species that are formed during the reaction and then go on to react further to form the final products. They are not directly involved in the overall reaction and are usually not present at the beginning or end of the reaction.
Products are the final substances formed after the reaction has taken place. They are written on the right-hand side of a chemical equation.
An example of a reaction involving reactants, intermediates, and products is the reaction between hydrogen gas (H₂) and nitrogen gas (N₂) to form ammonia (NH₃) through the :