A catalyst speeds up chemical reactions by lowering the activation energy required. It can be organic, synthetic or metallic. Enzymes are specialized proteins that act as catalysts in biochemical reactions. Catalysts are also important in industry, such as the catalytic converter in cars and fertilizers for plant growth. Inhibitors are negative catalysts that slow down reactions and are used in medicine.
A catalyst is any substance that acts to speed up a chemical reaction. It can be organic, synthetic or metallic. The process by which this substance speeds up or slows down a reaction is called catalysis.
For any process to occur, energy is required, known as activation energy. Without the help of a catalyst, the amount of energy required to start a particular reaction is large. When one is present, the activation energy is lowered, making the reaction more efficient. The substance generally works by changing the structure of a molecule or by binding to reacting molecules causing them to combine, react and release a product or energy. For example, a catalyst is needed for oxygen and hydrogen gases to combine and form water.
Without the help of a catalyst, chemical reactions may never occur or take a significantly longer period of time to react. When the chemical reaction occurs, the catalyst itself is not changed and is not part of the final result. Most of the time, it can be reused over and over again in subsequent reactions.
Sometimes, instead of speeding up a reaction, a catalyst works to slow down a reaction that wouldn’t normally occur or would occur very slowly. This type of substance is a negative catalyst, also referred to as an inhibitor. Inhibitors are important in medicine, where they are instrumental in treating mental illness, high blood pressure, cancer, and a host of other health problems.
A catalyst is used under two types of conditions, chemical or biochemical. The most common in biochemical reactions are enzymes. Enzymes are highly specialized proteins that speed up specific chemical reactions. They make life possible. For example, an enzyme found in saliva breaks down food for digestion on contact. Without this, it would take weeks for humans to digest our food.
Catalysts are also important in the laboratory, manufacturing and industry. One of the most famous is the catalytic converter, which helps prevent car emissions and makes fuel consumption more efficient. Fertilizers are also catalysts that accelerate plant growth.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
