Why silica gel acts as catalyst?

Answer 1

Because of the following reasons :

1- The big surface area of the silica gel (up to 800 square meter for one gram) .

2- Silica gel ability to adsorb many other substances & compound which them self may acts as catalyst .

3 - The high thermal ,chemical & deformation resistance of silica gel .

4-The existance of the active OH groups which can directly make bond to other chemical particles ,or displaced by other chemical groups or the positive H ion displaced with other active ions .

5- Silica gel undergoes reverse reactions simply .

Answer 2

Silica gel acts as a catalyst due to its high surface area and porous structure, which allows for increased contact between reactants and catalytic sites. This facilitates the reaction by lowering the activation energy and providing a platform for reaction to occur. Additionally, the hydroxyl groups on the silica gel surface can participate in the reaction mechanism, further enhancing the catalytic activity.