Question

using this diagram for support, why is energy required to move from the reactants to the transition state? the reactants are associated with less energy than the products. the reactant bonds require energy to break, and very little energy is released when the unstable transition state bonds form. the reactant bonds release energy when broken, but so much energy is required to form the unstable transition state bonds. the products are associated with more energy than the reactants.

Explanation:

In a chemical reaction, energy is needed to break reactant - bonds. When moving to the transition state, the formation of its unstable bonds releases little energy compared to the energy required to break reactant bonds.

Answer:

The reactant bonds require energy to break, and very little energy is released when the unstable transition state bonds form.