reaction coordinate diagrams

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Reaction coordinate diagrams trace the energy of a system (y-axis) during the progress of a reaction (x-axis). The energy of the starting materials is shown on the left, and the products are on the right. From a reaction coordinate, one can estimate the energy change for the overall reaction and the activation energy for each step of the process. Peaks in the curve indicate steps in the reaction and correspond to the reaction's transition states. Valleys in the curves are reaction intermediates.