Rates of Reaction: Catalysts

Catalysts play a significant role in rates of reactions as they speed up the process without being used up. They exist at the end of the reaction in the same form as they were at the beginning.
Catalysts function by providing an alternate pathway for a chemical reaction, which has a lower activation energy. This means the particles need less energy to react, thus increasing the speed of the reaction.
The activation energy is the minimum energy that particles need to collide and react. By lowering this threshold, catalysts enable more particles to have the required energy, thereby enhancing the rate of reaction.
Catalysts do not change the quantity or properties of products produced in a reaction. They merely accelerate the rate at which the reaction occurs without affecting the chemical equilibrium.
Enzymes are a common example of catalysts in biological systems. They speed up chemical processes in living organisms, functioning at specific optimal temperatures and pH levels.
There are two types of catalysts: homogeneous and heterogeneous. Homogeneous catalysts are in the same state as the reactants they are interacting with, whereas heterogeneous catalysts are in distinct physical phases.
Catalysts are instrumental in many industrial processes. For instance, in the Haber process, an iron catalyst is used to speed up the reaction of nitrogen and hydrogen to produce ammonia.
Catalyst poisoning can occur when impurities bind to the catalyst surface, reducing its effectiveness. This is a significant concern in industrial scenarios, where maintaining the functionality of catalysts is crucial.
Remember that increased temperature, higher concentration of reactants, a larger surface area (for solids), or the use of a catalyst can increase the rate of a reaction.
It’s also important to know that not every substance can act as a catalyst for any given chemical reaction. The catalyst must be suitable for the specific reaction in question. The choice of suitable catalysts is usually determined through experimental methods.