 As usual in statistical mechanics, these states correspond to ensembles of molecular conformations, not just one conformation.The molecule may transition between the native and unfolded states according to a simple kinetic model 
with rate constants formula_1 and formula_2 for the folding (U -> N) and unfolding (N -> U) reactions, respectively.The dimensionless equilibrium constant formula_3 can be used to determine the conformational stability formula_4 by the equation

where formula_6 is the gas constant and formula_7 is the absolute temperature in kelvin.