Question

What is an activated complex?

Answer 1

Hint: We know that the activation energy refers to the minimum amount of energy which is required for the reaction to occur. If the amount of activation energy is less which does not meet the required need of activation energy for a reaction the process did not get successful which means that the reaction does not occur.

Complete answer:
As we know that the activation energy can be calculated using various methods. It can be calculated using the Arrhenius equation and also when two temperatures and the rate constant at both temperatures are known. The temperature should be converted to kelvin while calculating activation energy using the Arrhenius equation. Activation energy is introduced by a scientist named Svante Arrhenius from Sweden. In the presence of the catalyst the activation energy gets lowered because the catalyst increases the rate of the reaction. Slower the chemical reaction higher will be the activation energy of the reaction. The release of heat also lowers the activation energy which is required by the reaction. When the reactants overcome this barrier, the products are formed and to overcome this barrier, the reactants need some energy, which is called the activation energy of a reaction.
We know, the activated complex has the highest energy state. The energy of the activated complex is the same as the height of the hill i.e., from the very bottom of the diagram to the top of the activation energy barrier. The activated complex or the transition complex is the complex that exists as the bonds in the products are forming and the bonds in the reactants are breaking. This complex exists for a very short period of time and is found when the energy of the system is at its maximum. The transition state theory, the activation energy is the difference between the energy content of the atoms or the molecules in an activated or the transition state configuration. If the value of activation energy becomes zero there will be no effective collision and no product will be formed.

Note:
Remember that the potential energy diagram above gives the relative energy of the reactants and the products in a reaction. The x-axis represents the pathway of the reaction. The particles that are the reactants in this reaction have a certain amount of potential energy.