Transition state

{
  "id": "MLC-T-CHM-012238",
  "term": "Transition state",
  "field": "Chemistry",
  "definition": "A specific configuration of atoms along the reaction coordinate that represents the point of highest potential energy between reactants and products in a chemical reaction. It is a saddle point on the potential energy surface, having one imaginary frequency corresponding to the reaction coordinate. The transition state is an unstable, fleeting arrangement of atoms that cannot be isolated.",
  "subject": "Organic and Biomolecular Chemistry",
  "see_also": [
    "Gibbs energy of activation",
    "Hammond principle",
    "activated complex",
    "activation",
    "colligation",
    "complex",
    "elementary reaction",
    "molecular entity",
    "potential-energy profile",
    "potential-energy surface",
    "probability",
    "radical",
    "col",
    "transition state theory",
    "transition structure"
  ],
  "references": [
    "PAC, 1994, 66, 1077. 'Glossary of terms used in physical organic chemistry (IUPAC Recommendations 1994)' on page 1174 (https://doi.org/10.1351/pac199466051077)"
  ],
  "url": "https://mlchart.com/terminology/chemistry/transition-state/"
}