Catalysis and

Precipitation
Chemistry A2
2.3.3
 Transition metals as
catalysts
• Increases the rate of a reaction by providing an alternative
route to follow.
• Transition metals provide a surface for the reaction to take
place. Reactants are adsorbed onto the surface.
• They have the ability to change oxidation states by losing or
gaining electron. They then bind to reactants forming
intermediates as part of a chemical pathway with a lower
activation energy.
 1. Haber process
• The Haber process is used to make ammonia,
NH3
• N2 + 3H2 --- 2NH3
• IRON CATALYST – increases rate of reaction and to lower
the temperature at which the reaction takes place/
• Much of the ammonia produced is used in manufacturing
fertilisers.
 2. Contact Process
• Convert sulfur dioxide, SO2, into sulfur trioxide, SO3, in the
manufacture of sulfuric acid, H2SO4
• 2SO2 + O2 - 2SO3
• VANADIUM OXIDE CATALYST, V2O5, in which vanadium has
the +5 oxidation state.
• Sulfuric acid is used for:
• Production of fertilisers
• Detergents
• Adhesives
• Explosives
• Electrolyte in car batteries
 3. Hydrogenation of
alkenes
• Hydrogen can be added across a C=C double bonds in
unsaturated compounds to make saturated compounds.

NICKEL CATALYT - used to lower the temperature and

pressure needed to carry out the reaction.
Vegetable oils to make spreadable margerines.
 4. Decomposition of
hydrogen peroxide
• Hydrogen peroxide decomposes slowly at room temperature
and pressure into water and oxygen. Catalyst is used to
increase rate reaction.
• 2H2O2  2H2O + O2
• MAGANESE OXIDE, MnO2 CATALYST
• This reaction is often used in labs as a simple preparation of
oxygen gas.
 Precipitation Reactions
• A precipitation reaction is one in which soluble ions, in
separate solutions, are mixed together to produce an insoluble
compound.
• This settles out of solution as a solid. The insoluble compound
is a precipitate.
• Transition metal ions in aqueous solution react with NaOH, to
form coloured precipitates.
• A blue solution of Cu2+ ions reacts with NaOH to form a pale
blue precipitate of Cu(OH)2.
• Cu2+ + 2OH-  Cu(OH)2
 Colour changes
Ion Observation with NaOH Equation
Co2+ Pink solution containing Co2+ reacts to form Co2+ + 2OH- Co(OH)2
a blue precipitate – turning beige in the
presence of air.
Fe2+ Pale green solution containing Fe2+ forms a Fe2+ + 2OH-  Fe(OH)2
green precipitate – turning rusty brown in
the presence of air.
Fe3+ Pale yellow solution containing Fe3+ forms a Fe3+ +3OH-  Fe(OH)3
rusty brown precipitate.