potential energy surface

A potential energy surface is a visual or conceptual map that shows how the energy of a system—like molecules—changes as its parts move and interact. Imagine it as a landscape with hills and valleys, where each point represents a specific arrangement of atoms. Valleys indicate stable configurations, while hills represent energy barriers that must be overcome for the system to change. This surface helps scientists understand how molecules react, transform, and behave, by revealing the most likely paths and stable states based on their energetic possibilities.