What is the name of the thermodynamic barrier that must be overcome before products are formed in a spontaneous reaction?

Activation energy is a thermodynamic barrier that must be overcome before products are formed in a reaction. It is the minimum amount of energy needed for a reaction to occur. The energy can be in the form of kinetic or potential energy. This concept was introduced by Svante Arrhenius, which brought about the Arrhenius equation which is a formula used to determine rate of reactions.