How are Microstates Related to the Energy Profile of a Catalytic Reaction?
The energy profile of a catalytic reaction is a representation of the energy changes that occur during the reaction. Each microstate corresponds to a point on this energy profile. The transition state, for example, is a high-energy microstate that represents a critical point the system must pass through to convert reactants into products. By analyzing these microstates, researchers can identify which steps in the reaction mechanism are energetically favorable and which are not.
