Transition State Theory

Transition state theory is a concept in chemistry that describes how chemical reactions occur. It suggests that during a reaction, molecules must pass through a high-energy state called the "transition state," which is an unstable configuration. This state represents the peak of the energy barrier that reactants must overcome to become products. Think of it as a mountain: to get to the other side (the products), you must first reach the top (the transition state). The rate of a reaction depends on how quickly molecules can reach and surpass this transition state.