Intermediate and Transition States

[Nathan_Barney_2A]

So what are the intermediate and transition states in the electrophile and neutrophile reactions? I got lost in the explanation in lecture, so can someone please explain?

[Kiara Quinn 3B]

Today during lecture, Professor Lavelle explained that there is one main distinction between the two:

Transition states have partially formed bonds, whereas intermediates have full formed bonds. (see page 85 in the course reader)

[Derek Lam 1K]

What does that mean to have partially formed bonds vs fully formed bonds?

[Chem_Mod]

An intermediate is a species in a chemical reaction that forms and then persists for some measurable time. A transition state is a brief moment in the reaction when the system has reached enough energy and the correct geometry to react. This cannot be isolated and will only exist for a fraction of a second.

Partially formed bonds are bonds which are not complete, but there is still some attraction felt between the two nuclei, this is similar to the electrostatic interaction seen in ions.