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Activation energy

(Science: chemistry) The amount of energy (expressed in joules) that is needed to convert all the molecules in one mole of a reacting substance from a ground state to the transition state. The energy that an atomic system must acquire before a process (such as an emission or reaction) can occur; catalysts are said to reduce the energy Of Activation during the transition phase of a reaction.Activation energy is the energy required to initiate a reaction, such at the 2 atp required to breakdown glucose into pyruvic acid in respiration. In this case, the process results in a net gain of energy.