NSCI 1322 Lecture Notes - Lecture 54: Heterogeneous Catalysis, Homogeneous Catalysis, Nitric Oxide

37 views6 pages

Document Summary

A catalyst is a substance that has the seemingly miraculous power of speeding up a reaction without being consumed by it. In theory, you could add a catalyst to a reaction mixture and, after the reaction, separate that catalyst and use it over and over again. In practice, there is often some loss of catalyst through other reactions that can occur at the same time. Catalysis is the increase in rate of a reaction that results from the addition of a catalyst. Catalysts are of enormous importance to the chemical industry, because they allow a reaction to occur with a reasonable rate at a much lower temperature than otherwise; lower temperatures translate into lower energy costs. Moreover, catalysts are often quite specific they increase the rate of certain reactions, but not others. For instance, an industrial chemist can start with a mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen and produce methane gas using one catalyst or produce gasoline using another catalyst.

Get access

Grade+20% off
$8 USD/m$10 USD/m
Billed $96 USD annually
Grade+
Homework Help
Study Guides
Textbook Solutions
Class Notes
Textbook Notes
Booster Class
40 Verified Answers
Class+
$8 USD/m
Billed $96 USD annually
Class+
Homework Help
Study Guides
Textbook Solutions
Class Notes
Textbook Notes
Booster Class
30 Verified Answers

Related Documents