is it correct to say that a catalyst affects the speed of a reaction but does not take part in the reacton?

Question

explain

Answer 1

Partly right.
They very much DO take part in the reaction, BUT they are not used up and are recovered in their original state. Catalyst are used to speed reactions up. Say you want to combine two molecules but they are not reacting very fast, you add whatever catalyst and the catalyst may attach to one molecule or atom in a way that makes the other reactant able to react with it "easier". The catalyst would then be released once the two reactants combine.

This is a very poor explanation I know, and catalysts act in different ways depending on what reaction is being performed. To put it simply: Catalyst lower the activation energy required for a reaction to proceed and they are recovered in full at the end of the reaction.

Answer 2

well, not really especially in organic reactions. for example there are acid/base catalyzed reactions that require said catalysts before the reaction can progress. the bases often deprotonate (remove a proton, typically a H) from a molecule while the acid protonates whatever needs protonating (addition of H). still, the catalyst is recovered at the end. Look for some organic chemistry mechanisms.

There are also catalysts that help speed up reactions but don't really take part in the reaction. Metal catalysts such as Pd or Pt often hold molecules in place so that other molecules can have an easier time bumping into them and therefore causing an increase in the rate of the reaction.

Answer 3

Catalyst is a material when mixed with other substances, it speeds up, make it possible, or cause it to be more effecient, in the reactions of other materials BUT doesn't itself get consumed in the process.

If that is what you meant by "take part in", yes, it is correct. But, the catalyst is there in the mixture, so it IS taking part in the reaction. It just doesn't get consumed.

Answer 4

A catalyst takes part in and speeds up a reaction but itself isn't changed.

Answer 5

Catalysts: Substances that speed up a chemical reaction but they do not take part in the reaction...sounds about right to me :)