Dividing surface

{
  "id": "MLC-T-CHM-003363",
  "term": "Dividing surface",
  "field": "Chemistry",
  "definition": "A conceptual surface used in transition state theory to separate reactants from products along a reaction pathway on a potential energy surface. This surface is chosen to pass through the transition state, and any trajectory crossing it in the product direction is assumed to lead to product formation. It is perpendicular to the reaction coordinate at the transition state.",
  "subject": "Physical and Biophysical Chemistry",
  "see_also": [
    "minimum-energy reaction path",
    "potential-energy surface",
    "order of reaction",
    "transition state theory",
    "variational transition state theory"
  ],
  "references": [
    "PAC, 1996, 68, 149. 'A glossary of terms used in chemical kinetics, including reaction dynamics (IUPAC Recommendations 1996)' on page 163 (https://doi.org/10.1351/pac199668010149)"
  ],
  "url": "https://mlchart.com/terminology/chemistry/dividing-surface/"
}