Question detail
What is activation energy in a chemical reaction?
Try the question, check the answer, then read the explanation to understand the curriculum point.
At a glance
MCQ
Type
practice
Style
Topic
Exothermic and endothermic reactions
Question
- A. The energy needed to break bonds in reactants
- B. The energy released when bonds form in products
- C. The minimum energy particles need to react
- D. The total energy change of the reaction
Answer
The minimum energy particles need to react
Explanation
Activation energy is defined as the minimum energy that reacting particles must possess in order to collide and react.
Common mistake
Misunderstanding Activation Energy
Students often confuse activation energy with the overall energy change of the reaction, thinking they are the same.
Remember that activation energy is the minimum energy required for reactants to collide and react, while the overall energy change refers to the difference in energy between reactants and products.
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