Catalysis Fundamentals

Catalysts and Catalysis

• A catalyst is a substance that speeds up a chemical reaction without being consumed or altered in the process.
• The primary effect of a catalyst on a chemical reaction is to lower the activation energy, allowing the reaction to occur faster and more efficiently.
• Catalysis contributes to sustainability by reducing the amount of energy required for a reaction, thus minimizing waste and environmental impact.

Characteristics of Catalysts

• A catalyst can be used in small amounts relative to the substrate because it is not consumed during the reaction and can be recovered and reused.
• This characteristic of a catalyst is known as its turnover number, which represents the number of substrate molecules that can be converted by a single catalyst molecule.

Catalysts and Reaction Rate

• A catalyst affects the rate of a chemical reaction by providing an alternative reaction pathway with a lower activation energy, allowing more reactant molecules to react in a given time.
• The presence of a catalyst increases the frequency of successful collisions between reactant molecules, leading to a faster reaction rate.