In conventional
transition-state theory it
is assumed that
activated complexes
are formed in a state of equilibrium with the reactants. They are not in classical
equilibrium with the reactants; if they were, addition of more activated complexes
to the system would cause the equilibrium to shift in favour of the reactants. This
would not occur for an
activated complex, and the term quasi-equilibrium is used to denote this special type of equilibrium.
Source:
PAC, 1996, 68, 149
(A glossary of terms used in chemical kinetics, including reaction dynamics (IUPAC
Recommendations 1996))
on page 179
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.
