Reactive complex

{
  "id": "MLC-T-CHM-009977",
  "term": "Reactive complex",
  "field": "Chemistry",
  "definition": "A species with a very brief lifetime that forms as an intermediate step on the way from reactants to products. The activated complex, or transition state, is the special case at the top of the energy barrier, while other reactive complexes can sit in potential energy wells along the path. Lifetimes run from tens of femtoseconds for a transition state to picoseconds or more for a long-lived collision complex.",
  "subject": "Physical and Biophysical Chemistry",
  "see_also": [
    "activated complex",
    "transition state"
  ],
  "references": [
    "PAC, 1996, 68, 149. 'A glossary of terms used in chemical kinetics, including reaction dynamics (IUPAC Recommendations 1996)' on page 184 (https://doi.org/10.1351/pac199668010149)"
  ],
  "url": "https://mlchart.com/terminology/chemistry/reactive-complex/"
}