PHOTOCHEMICAL REACTION Meaning and
Definition
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A photochemical reaction is a chemical reaction that is initiated or driven by the absorption of light energy. When molecules absorb photons, they undergo a transition to a higher energy state, known as an excited state. This excess energy can then be transferred within the molecule or to neighboring molecules, resulting in various chemical transformations.
During a photochemical reaction, the absorbed light triggers a series of processes within the reactant molecules, leading to the formation of new chemical species with altered structural or electronic configurations. These reactions often occur in the presence of a photosensitizer or a catalyst, which enhances the efficiency of the photon absorption and subsequent reaction.
The key characteristic of a photochemical reaction is that it can occur at lower activation energies compared to thermal or chemical reactions. This is due to the high reactivity and selectivity achieved through electronic excitation rather than thermal excitation alone.
Photochemical reactions are crucial in numerous natural and artificial processes. In nature, they play a pivotal role in photosynthesis, where light energy is converted into chemical energy. In addition, they are involved in atmospheric and environmental processes, such as the formation and degradation of pollutants and the production of ozone. Photochemical reactions are also widely used in various industrial applications, such as the synthesis of pharmaceuticals, polymers, and dyes.
Common Misspellings for PHOTOCHEMICAL REACTION
- ohotochemical reaction
- lhotochemical reaction
- -hotochemical reaction
- 0hotochemical reaction
- pgotochemical reaction
- pbotochemical reaction
- pnotochemical reaction
- pjotochemical reaction
- puotochemical reaction
- pyotochemical reaction
- phitochemical reaction
- phktochemical reaction
- phltochemical reaction
- phptochemical reaction
- ph0tochemical reaction
- ph9tochemical reaction
- phorochemical reaction
- phofochemical reaction
- phogochemical reaction
Etymology of PHOTOCHEMICAL REACTION
The word "photochemical" is derived from the combining form "photo-" which comes from the Greek word "phos" meaning "light". The term "photochemical reaction" refers to a chemical reaction that is triggered or facilitated by light. The word "chemical" comes from the Greek word "khemia" which originally referred to the study of alchemy. Hence, combining "photo-" with "chemical" forms "photochemical", indicating the role of light in the chemical reaction.
Similar spelling word for PHOTOCHEMICAL REACTION
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