Chemical reactivity (source code)

= Chemical reactivity

<Chemical reactivity> is the tendency of a species to undergo a specified <chemical reaction> under specified conditions. A meaningful comparison identifies the reacting partner, solvent or phase, temperature, and measured outcome.

Thermodynamic favorability and reaction speed are different: a transformation may lower <Gibbs free energy> yet proceed slowly because its <activation energy> is high. A catalyst can change that barrier without changing the equilibrium constant. Reactivity therefore connects molecular electronic structure and geometry with both <chemical thermodynamics> and <chemical kinetics>.