·
This I/GCSE Chemistry blog post will introduce the ideas with catalysts and chemical reactions, let's go!
CATALYSTS
- catalyst= a substance that speeds up a chemical reaction, but is not consumed by the reaction.
- catalysis= process involving a catalyst.
- Many transition elements are powerful catalysts.
- Catalysts affect chemical reactions by reducing the amount of activation energy that is needed, i.e. by lowering the ‘hump’ on the energy curve between reactants and products.
- Obviously catalysts are valuable in industry. The smaller the amount of heat that needs to be put into a reaction to start it, the lower the fuel bills.
- The more rapid the reaction can be made, the larger the throughput of the plant can be.
- These are strong economic arguments for the use of catalysts whenever and wherever possible.
BIOLOGICAL CATALYSTS
- Enzymes= common biological catalysts.
- Common protein (type of enzyme) characteristics:
- They are destroyed by heating, since they are proteins. They are generally destroyed above about 45°C.
- They act best within a narrow temperature range, and within a particular pH range.
- They only catalyse a single reaction, and always produce the same end products.
That is it for catalysts!
References:
https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Flavelle.chem.ucla.edu%2Fforum%2Fviewtopic.php%3Ft%3D12937&psig=AOvVaw1O_3eOw-G-n8wH8wkAdBbW&ust=1629694234705000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=0CAsQjRxqFwoTCLj6gaTqw_ICFQAAAAAdAAAAABAJ
https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fcourses.lumenlearning.com%2Fsuny-introductory-chemistry%2Fchapter%2Fcatalysis%2F&psig=AOvVaw2-CATX805JVUzuDK5FDzdt&ust=1629694292808000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=0CAsQjRxqFwoTCJCRhsLqw_ICFQAAAAAdAAAAABAT