Activity Number 198

	Overview and Learning Objectives
	Central Concepts
	Textbook References
	Benchmarks and Standards
	Macro Micro Link
	Activity Credits
	Requirements

Activation Energy [advanced]

Interactive model, with minimal support

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	Overview and Learning Objectives A chemical reaction is the process of a system going from one stable state to another stable state. A chemical system normally has multiple stable states possessing different potential energies. This model demonstrates the concept of activation energy, in which an experimenter must add energy to a system in order for it to acquire the potential energy to exist in a new stable chemical state. Students manipulate temperature and watch a microscopic reaction occur. Students will be able to: adjust the ambient temperature to the point where the necessary activation energy is supplied and the reaction can occur; watch in real time how the kinetic energy of particles influences their ability to react; understand that chemical systems have multiple stable states, each determined by a unique potential energy. return to top



	Central Concepts Key Concept: Activation energy is an empirical parameter used by chemists to describe the temperature dependence of the reaction rate constant. A high activation energy can make a reaction unlikely. Additional Related Concepts Physics/Chemistry Activation energy Chemical reaction Reaction rate return to top



	Textbook References Biology: Concepts and Connections (Pearson) 5th Edition - Chapter 5: The Working Cell BSCS Blue (8th Edition) - Chapter 2: Energy, Life and the Biosphere return to top



	Benchmarks and Standards NSES Life Science: The Cell - 2 Most cell functions involve chemical reactions (Full Text of Standard) Physical-Science: Chemical Reactions - Catalysts, such as metal surfaces, accelerate chemical reactions (Full Text of Standard) Physical-Science: Energy Conservation / Entropy - 1 The total energy of the universe is constant (Full Text of Standard) return to top



	Macro Micro Link Activation energy enables us to live more or less in a chemically static everyday world. Without activation energy, many reactions would occur spontaneously. return to top



	Activity Credits Created by CC Project: CCATOMS using Molecular Workbench return to top



	Requirements Java 1.5+ - Java 1.5+ is available for Windows, Linux, and Mac OS X 10.4 and greater. If you are using Mac OS X 10.3, you can download MW Version 1.3 and explore within it instead. return to top

These materials are based upon work supported
by the National Science Foundation under grant numbers
9980620, ESI-0242701 and EIA-0219345

Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this
material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect
the views of the National Science Foundation.

Activation Energy [advanced]

Overview and Learning Objectives

Central Concepts

Additional Related Concepts

Textbook References

Benchmarks and Standards

Macro Micro Link

Activity Credits

Requirements