Potential Energy Diagram. A potential energy diagram shows the total potential energy of a reacting system as the reaction proceeds. This is most easily accomplished for a one dimensional system whose potential energy can be plotted in one two dimensional graph for example u x versus x on a piece of paper or a computer program.
For this reason the activation energy of a reaction is sometimes referred to as the activation energy barrier. A potential energy diagram shows the change in potential energy of a system as reactants are converted into products. From the ck 12 foundation christopher auyeung.
A potential energy diagram plots the change in potential energy that occurs during a chemical reaction.
Energy graph example potential energy of reactants 350 kj mol potential energy of products 250 kj mol activation energy 100 kj mol 450 kj mol 100 200 300 400 exothermic reaction δh 100 kj reaction pathway timeline potentialenergyinkj. A potential energy diagram shows the change in potential energy of a system as reactants are converted into products. Often you can get a good deal of useful information about the dynamical behavior of a mechanical system just by interpreting a graph of its potential energy as a function of position called a potential energy diagram. For this reason the activation energy of a reaction is sometimes referred to as the activation energy barrier.
