Which term is used to describe the energy required for substrate to convert into product via the transition state?

Activation energy is the term that refers to the energy required for a substrate to be converted into product through the transition state. This concept is central to understanding chemical reactions and enzymatic processes.

When a substrate undergoes a transformation to become a product, it must first reach a higher energy state known as the transition state. This state represents a point at which chemical bonds are being broken and formed, and it is unstable. The energy required to achieve this state is termed activation energy. It acts as a barrier that must be overcome for the reaction to proceed.

Enzymes, which are biological catalysts, can lower the activation energy of reactions, thereby increasing the reaction rate. By providing an alternative pathway for the reaction with a lower activation energy, enzymes facilitate the conversion of substrates to products more efficiently.

The other terms mentioned do not specifically refer to this energy requirement. Binding energy relates to the energy released when a substrate binds to an enzyme, free energy pertains to the energy available to do work in a system at constant temperature and pressure, and transition energy is not a standard term used in biochemistry. Understanding activation energy is vital in the study of biochemical reactions, as it highlights the energy dynamics involved in enzymatic activity and metabolic pathways.