What is a Catalyst ?

Catalyst is a substance that increases the rate of the reaction

at which a chemical system approaches equilibrium , without
being substantially consumed in the process.

Catalyst affects only the rate of the reaction,i.e.Kinetics. It

changes neither the thermodynamics of the reaction nor the
equilibrium composition.

How catalysts work ?

Catalysts allow reactions to proceed by a different mechanism a

new pathway.

New pathway has a lower activation energy (so, has a faster rate).
More molecules will have this activation energy.

Does not change overall G

Activation Energy
Activation Energy : The energy required to overcome the reaction barrier.

The Activation Energy determines how fast a reaction occurs, the higher Activation
barrier, the slower the reaction rate. The lower the Activation barrier, the faster the
reaction

Activation Energy
CATALYST LOWERS THE ACTIVATION ENERGY FOR BOTH
FORWARD AND REVERSE REACTIONS.

Activation Energy

catalyst increases the rate of reaction.

Heterogeneous catalysis

Heterogeneous catalysis

Heterogeneous catalysis

Heterogeneous catalysis

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Heterogeneous catalysis

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Heterogeneous catalysis

Catalysis is thought to work in three stages...

Adsorption

Reaction
Desorption

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Heterogeneous catalysis

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Heterogeneous catalysis

Adsorption (STEP 1)
Incoming species lands on an active site and forms bonds with the catalyst. It may use some of the
bonding electrons in the molecules thus weakening them and making a subsequent reaction easier.
Reaction (STEPS 2 and 3)
Adsorbed gases may be held on the surface in just the right orientation for a reaction to occur.
This increases the chances of favourable collisions taking place.
Desorption (STEP 4)
There is a re-arrangement of electrons and the products are then released from the active sites

Homogeneous catalysis

Action

catalyst and reactants are in the same phase

reaction proceeds through an intermediate species with lower energy
there is usually more than one reaction step

transition metal ions are often involved - oxidation state changes

Example
Acids

Esterificaton

Conc. sulphuric acid catalyses the reaction between acids and alcohols
CH3COOH + C2H5OH

CH3COOC2H5 + H2O

NB Catalysts have NO EFFECT ON THE POSITION OF EQUILIBRIUM

but they do affect the rate at which equilibrium is reached