Question

what is the difference between a transition state and an intermediate?

Answer 1

I would say that the transition state is one that happens during a reaction where as an intermediate state is one of the steps of a reaction.

Answer 2

reactive intermediates can be isolated where transitional states can not be.

A transition state is just an energy maximum, any small displacement leads to a more stable product.

An intermediate however is a molecule or ion that represents a localized energy minimum, so an energy barrier must be overcome before this intermediate forms another more stable product. For this reason transitional states lasts only a tiny fraction of a second in reactions, but intermediates can be isolated completely because of their energy barrier.

Answer 3

Thank you very much. Both your answers are helpful. ^^