Path orthogonal to the equipotential contours of a potential energy surface that
connects the energy minima through a
saddle point (
transition state) from which
it slopes downwards along the steepest descending lines in
3
N - 6
configurational space
(
N is the number of nuclei in the reacting system).
Note:
MERP calculation allows the investigation of detailed changes
in molecular structure describing the
transformation of reactants to products.
Source:
PAC, 2007, 79, 293
(Glossary of terms used in photochemistry, 3rd edition (IUPAC Recommendations 2006))
on page 370
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.
)
