potential-energy profile

https://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.P04779
A curve describing the variation of the potential energy of the system of atoms that make up the reactants and products of a reaction as a function of one geometric coordinate, and corresponding to the 'energetically easiest passage' from reactants to products (i.e. along the line produced by joining the paths of steepest descent from the @T06468@ to the reactants and to the products). For an @E02035@ the relevant geometric coordinate is the @R05168@ ; for a @S05970@ it is the succession of reaction coordinates for the successive individual reaction steps. (The @R05168@ is sometimes approximated by a quasi-chemical index of reaction progress, such as 'degree of atom transfer' or @B00707@ of some specified bond.)
See also:
potential-energy (reaction) surface
,
Gibbs energy diagram
Sources:
PAC, 1994, 66, 1077. (Glossary of terms used in physical organic chemistry (IUPAC Recommendations 1994)) on page 1151 [Terms] [Paper]
PAC, 1996, 68, 149. (A glossary of terms used in chemical kinetics, including reaction dynamics (IUPAC Recommendations 1996)) on page 176 [Terms] [Paper]