Question

What is the minimum amount of energy required to start a chemical reaction?

Answer 1

1. A chemical reaction consist of different atoms, molecules, or compounds that arrange themselves to create new compounds.
2. The chemical reaction contains reactant molecules that produce product molecules.
3. The minimum amount of energy that is required to start any chemical reaction is called activation energy.
4. This is because some amount of energy is always needed to initiate the reaction whether it is exothermic or endothermic.
5. The exothermic reaction also involves some activation energy to initiate the reaction, and later it releases this energy.
6. Activation energy can be affected by the nature of the reactant and the effect of the catalyst.
7. The unit of activation energy is $\frac{\mathrm{KJ}}{\mathrm{mol}}$.