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The profile for same reaction but with a catalyst is also shown. Figure 13: An energy profile diagram demonstrating the effect of a catalyst for the generic exothermic reaction of X + Y →Z. The catalyst offers an alternate reaction pathway (shown in red) where the rate determining step has a smaller ΔG≠.
The energy serves as a threshold that reactant molecules must surpass to overcome the energy barrier and transition into the activated complex. Endothermic reactions absorb energy from the surroundings, while exothermic reactions release energy. Some reactions occur spontaneously, while others necessitate an external energy input.
An energy profile of an exothermic reaction. In an exothermic reaction, by definition, the enthalpy change has a negative value: ΔH = H products - H reactants < 0. where a larger value (the higher energy of the reactants) is subtracted from a smaller value (the lower energy of the products). For example, when hydrogen burns: 2H 2 (g) + O 2 (g ...
Generic potential energy diagram showing the effect of a catalyst in a hypothetical exothermic chemical reaction X + Y to give Z. The presence of the catalyst opens a different reaction pathway (shown in red) with lower activation energy. The final result and the overall thermodynamics are the same.
This can be explained with reference to potential energy diagrams: Energy diagrams showing how to interpret Hammond's Postulate. In case (a), which is an exothermic reaction, the energy of the transition state is closer in energy to that of the reactant than that of the intermediate or the product.
With the catalyst, the energy required to enter transition state decreases, thereby decreasing the energy required to initiate the reaction. A substance that modifies the transition state to lower the activation energy is termed a catalyst; a catalyst composed only of protein and (if applicable) small molecule cofactors is termed an enzyme.
Schematic potential energy diagram showing the effect of a catalyst in an endothermic chemical reaction. The presence of a catalyst opens a different reaction pathway (in red) with lower activation energy. The final result and the overall thermodynamics are the same.
At this point the catalyst can selectively lower the transition state energy of a single enantiomer, leading to almost 100% yield of one reaction pathway over the other. The figure below is an example of an energy diagram for a compound with an (R) and (S) isomer. [4] Energy diagram of an (R) and (S) isomer.