Transition state vs. intermediate

[icecoldstar]

what's the difference???

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[mitchlucker]

An intermediate is a short-lived unstable molecule in a reaction. It shows a slight reduction in energy on the reaction coordinate.

A transition state is the transition to a new molecule. It has everything it needs to be the new molecule, and is the highest point on the reaction coordinate.

An intermediate would be something like a carbocation, and a transition state would be the 5-membered carbon complex that forms in an Sn2 reaction.

 

[Lexicon0]

An intermediate is a short-lived unstable molecule in a reaction. It shows a slight reduction in energy on the reaction coordinate.

A transition state is the transition to a new molecule. It has everything it needs to be the new molecule, and is the highest point on the reaction coordinate.

An intermediate would be something like a carbocation, and a transition state would be the 5-membered carbon complex that forms in an Sn2 reaction.

The above is completely correct. Just to add a tidbit, intermediates can actually be isolated during the course of a reaction, whereas transition states are purely just a state of high energy that cannot be isolated.