Question

Activation energy is ____.

the heat released in a reaction
the energy barrier between reactants and products
the energy given off when reactants collide
generally very high for a reaction that takes place rapidly

Answer 1

Correct answer: the energy barrier between reactants and products.

Activation energy is the minimum energy that the reacting molecules must have for the reaction to be fruitful, or it is the energy to be possessed by the reactants to initiate a reaction. All the reactant molecules must have this energy to yield the products. So, activation energy is the energy barrier that limits the formation of products.