catalysts

role of catalysts

increase the rate of reaction without being used up by providing an alternative route for a reaction with a lower activation energy requirement

reaction profile diagram for uncatalysed vs catalysed reaction

hetereogenous catalyst

a catalyst in a different phase/state from the reactants

how do hetereogenous catalysts work

• Adsorption of the reactants at active sites on the surface may lead to catalytic action

• the active site is the place where the reactants adsorb onto the surface of the catalyst, where bonds are formed between the reactant and surface of the catalyst

• the reaction occurs on the surface

• the products are desorbed from the surface