How does a catalyst work?

Answer 1

A catalyst actually decreases the activation energy of a reaction in 2 ways:

1) By a process called adsorption, it attracts the molecules of the reactants to its surface so that they are closer together and can react more easily by colliding more successfully.

2) It creates a transition state, which is an inter mediate state before the final reaction occurs, which creates an intermediate, unstable compound using the catalyst itself. By the time the final product is formed, a new product as well as the original catalysy are remaining and the activation energy is considerably reduced.

Answer 2

A catalyst works by lowering the activation energy needed for a chemical reaction to occur, thus speeding up the reaction. It does this by providing an alternative pathway for the reaction to proceed, without getting consumed or altered in the process. This allows the reaction to happen more quickly and efficiently.

Answer 3

Catalysts are substances which speed up the rate of reaction (in a chemical reaction)without using itself up.

Answer 4

A Catalyst makes a chemical reaction proceed faster, but is not used up by the reaction.

Answer 5

In a reaction, it speeds up the process and lowers the activation energy (does not allow the cell to overheat).

Answer 6

a catalyst speeds up chemical reactions