https://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.A00093
This word is used in different senses:
- Input of external energy into a chemical system is said to bring about activation of the system.
- An added substance that increases the rate of a catalysed reaction is known as an activator, and the effect is called activation. The degree of activation \(\varepsilon_{\rm{a}}\) is defined by: \[\varepsilon_{\rm{a}}=\frac{v\,-\,v_{0}}{v_{0}} = \frac{v}{v_{0}} - 1\] where \(v_{0}\) is the rate of the catalysed reaction in the absence of the activator and \(v\) is the rate of the catalysed reaction in the presence of the activator.
- When some of the energy required for a reaction to occur is provided by a previous exothermic chemical reaction there is said to be chemical activation.
See: catalysis, chemical activation
See also: activator, inhibition