reaction coordinate

A reaction coordinate is a diagrammatic representation used in chemistry and physics to illustrate the progress of a chemical reaction over time. It acts like a pathway or roadmap, showing the different states of reactants as they transform into products. On one end, you have the starting materials (reactants), and on the other end, the ending materials (products). The path in between includes energy changes, often indicating transition states where bonds break or form. This visualization helps scientists understand how reactions occur, including energy barriers that need to be overcome for the reaction to proceed.