How do catalysts work?
In a chemical reaction, the bonds holding the reactants together must first be broken before the reaction can begin.
Breaking bonds requires energy, and the energy needed to start a reaction is referred to as the activation energy.
Catalysts work by Providing an alternative reaction pathway for the breaking and remaking of bonds. The activation energy for this new pathway is often less than the activation energy of the normal pathway.
how do catalysts work? Well, it’s quite simple really! When a homogeneous catalyst is present, one of the reactants (substrate) reacts with the catalyst forming an intermediate product. The intermediate product then reacts with the other reactant to form the final product.
The activation energies of both these steps is lower than the activation energy without the presence of a catalyst, therefore more molecules will have the energy to react using the catalyst; hence the rate of reaction is increased.
In a chemical reaction, the bonds holding the reactants together must first be broken before the reaction can begin.
Breaking bonds requires energy, and the energy needed to start a reaction is referred to as the activation energy.
Catalysts work by Providing an alternative reaction pathway for the breaking and remaking of bonds. The activation energy for this new pathway is often less than the activation energy of the normal pathway.
how do catalysts work? Well, it’s quite simple really! When a homogeneous catalyst is present, one of the reactants (substrate) reacts with the catalyst forming an intermediate product. The intermediate product then reacts with the other reactant to form the final product.
The activation energies of both these steps is lower than the activation energy without the presence of a catalyst, therefore more molecules will have the energy to react using the catalyst; hence the rate of reaction is increased.
