Why Transition States are SO important!

What ARE transition states and intermediates? And why are they SO important in chemistry? In this video, we explore the science of transition state theory to see how catalysts change the activation energy of the rate determining step and make the whole reaction faster.
This video was made at Kyushu University in Japan. It’s one of Japan’s top universities and we have courses on science and engineering in English. Click the link for more information:

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Three Twentysix Project Leader, Writer, Producer etc: Dr Andrew Robertson
3D animations: Es Hiranpakorn and Siwat Pogboon
Graphic Design: Maria Sucianto
Production assistant: Pupe Pimchanok

This video was produced at Kyushu University and supported by JSPS KAKENHI Grant Number JP21K02904. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Kyushu University, JSPS or MEXT.

[sophiacaritos]

Just to see what I took away from this video. Basically we need to know transition states because we want to focus our energy into overcoming the highest point of energy the reactants needs to make products. This is called the rate determining step. It’s also so much easier with a catalyst b/c of the extreme attraction from elements like oxygen and fluorine we get in molecules to extract molecules that would be way harder to react with.

[madhavanp]

Sir is it possible or requirement for scientist to know to explain every basic and advanced reaction without recalling? I just feel that is impossible!! I am just curious

[davidmurphy]

We probably need to dissect one to find out. Or waterboarding might work.