A surface, usually taken to be a hyperplane, constructed at right angles to the
minimum-energy path on a
potential-energy surface. In conventional
transition-state theory it passes through the highest point on the minimum-energy path. In generalized versions
of transition-state theory the dividing surface can be at other positions; in
variational transition-state theory the position of the dividing surface is varied so as to get a better estimate of
the
rate constant.
Source:
PAC, 1996, 68, 149
(A glossary of terms used in chemical kinetics, including reaction dynamics (IUPAC
Recommendations 1996))
on page 163
Cite as:
IUPAC. Compendium of Chemical Terminology, 2nd ed. (the "Gold Book"). Compiled by
A. D. McNaught and A. Wilkinson. Blackwell Scientific Publications, Oxford (1997).
XML on-line corrected version: http://goldbook.iupac.org (2006-) created by M. Nic,
J. Jirat, B. Kosata; updates compiled by A. Jenkins. ISBN 0-9678550-9-8.
https://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.
