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Activation Energy definitions

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  • Activation Energy
    Energy difference between reactants and transition state, controlling reaction speed and requiring overcoming for product formation.
  • Transition State
    High-energy, unstable configuration at the peak of a reaction's energy diagram, where substrate transformation occurs.
  • Entropy
    Measure of randomness in substrate motion; higher values decrease collision likelihood and raise energy barriers.
  • Substrate
    Molecule upon which an enzyme acts, requiring proper orientation and distortion for reaction progression.
  • Enzyme
    Biological catalyst that lowers energy barriers by restricting substrate motion, orienting, distorting, and desolvating substrates.
  • Binding Energy
    Energy released from non-covalent interactions between enzyme and substrate, used to influence activation energy factors.
  • Induced Fit Model
    Mechanism where enzyme and substrate change shape to stabilize the transition state, facilitating reaction.
  • Active Site
    Region on an enzyme tailored to bind substrates and stabilize transition states, optimizing reaction conditions.
  • Hydration Shell
    Layer of water molecules surrounding substrates in solution, potentially interfering with substrate interactions.
  • Solvation
    Process where solvent molecules surround substrates, affecting reaction rates by creating energy barriers.
  • Enzyme-Substrate Complex
    Temporary association where enzyme binds substrate, restricting motion and facilitating reaction steps.
  • Functional Group
    Specific molecular moiety on substrates requiring proper alignment for effective chemical reactions.
  • Non-covalent Interaction
    Weak chemical forces, such as hydrogen bonds, that stabilize enzyme-substrate binding and transition states.
  • Kinetics
    Study of reaction rates, influenced by activation energy and enzyme activity.
  • Distortion
    Structural change in substrate required to reach the transition state, often stabilized by enzyme action.