BTEC Science classes have a module on activation energy, and this crops up in GCSE too. This is the minimum energy required for a reaction to start.
This blog link shows a dramatic example of how to give a chemical the required energy to react. In this case three matches that are made to burn without the need for friction by striking.
http://www.sciencefix.com/home/2010/2/12/video-demo-strikeless-matches.html
Filed under: Chemistry
