Kinetic Stability Theory

Kinetic Stability Theory explains how the stability of a molecule or a cluster depends on the energy and motion of its particles. If the particles move in ways that don't easily break the structure—like having high energy barriers to change—the molecule is kinetically stable, meaning it persists over time even if not in the lowest energy state. Conversely, if particles can move or reconfigure easily, the structure might be less stable, despite having a low overall energy. Essentially, it focuses on how the dynamic behavior and energy barriers influence whether a chemical structure remains intact.