Kinetic vs. Thermodynamic Control Definition, Types, Examples & Uses

Kinetic vs. Thermodynamic Control

Subject: Chemistry

Book: General Chemistry

Reactions under kinetic control favor products that form fastest (lowest Ea), while thermodynamic control favors products of greatest stability (lowest Gibbs free energy). Temperature and reaction time can influence which pathway dominates. For instance, at lower temperatures or short reaction times, the kinetically favored product may dominate, but at higher temperatures or longer times, equilibrium shifts to the thermodynamically stable product.