The activation energy of a reaction refers to the minimum amount of energy
A) released by the reaction.
B) in the reactants.
C) in the products.
D) necessary to cause a reaction to proceed on its own.
E) difference between the energy of the reactants and the energy of the products.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The activation energy of a reaction is the minimum amount of energy needed to start a reaction and allow it to proceed on its own. It is not related to the energy released by the reaction (choice A), nor is it the energy in the reactants (choice B) or products (choice C). It is also not the difference between the energy of the reactants and the products (choice E).

The Activation Energy of a Reaction Refers to the Minimum