Term: compensation effect https://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.C01197 Definition: In a considerable number of cases plots of TćS vs. ćH, for a series of reactions, e.g. for a reaction in a range of different solvents, are straight lines of approximately unit slope. Therefore, the terms ćH and TćS in the expression partially compensate, and \[\Delta ^{\ddagger}G = \Delta ^{\ddagger}H - T\ \Delta ^{\ddagger}S\] often is a much simpler function of solvent (or other) variation than ćH or TćS separately. Related Terms: 1) isokinetic relationship (http://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.I03285). Source: PAC, 1994, 66, 1077. 'Glossary of terms used in physical organic chemistry (IUPAC Recommendations 1994)' on page 1098 (https://doi.org/10.1351/pac199466051077) Citation: 'compensation effect' in IUPAC Compendium of Chemical Terminology, 5th ed. International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry; 2025. Online version 5.0.0, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.C01197 License: The IUPAC Gold Book is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike CC BY-SA 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) for individual terms. Disclaimer: The International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) is continuously reviewing and, where needed, updating terms in the Compendium of Chemical Terminology (the IUPAC Gold Book). Users of these terms are encouraged to include the version of a term with its use and to check regularly for updates to term definitions that you are using.