Structural stability

{
  "id": "MLC-T-CHM-011496",
  "term": "Structural stability",
  "field": "Chemistry",
  "definition": "The property of a system on a potential energy surface where the number and type of critical points (minima, maxima, saddle points) remain unchanged under small perturbations of that surface. A system is structurally stable if a slight modification of the potential energy function does not create, destroy, or change the character of any stationary points. This concept is distinct from thermodynamic stability, which relates to the absolute energy of a state.",
  "subject": "Organic and Biomolecular Chemistry",
  "see_also": [
    "adiabatic"
  ],
  "references": [
    "PAC, 1999, 71, 1919. 'Glossary of terms used in theoretical organic chemistry' on page 1964 (https://doi.org/10.1351/pac199971101919)"
  ],
  "url": "https://mlchart.com/terminology/chemistry/structural-stability/"
}