A catalyst is a substance that speeds up a chemical reaction, but is not consumed by the reaction; hence a catalyst can be recovered chemically unchanged at the end of the reaction it has been used to speed up, or catalyze.
Keeping this in view, what is a catalyst in a chemical reaction example?
Chemical Catalysts. Hydrogen peroxide will decompose into water and oxygen gas. Two molecules of hydrogen peroxide will produce two molecules of water and one molecule of oxygen. A catalyst of potassium permanganate can be used to speed up this process.
What is the role of a catalyst in a chemical reaction?
Catalysts called enzymes are important in biology. A catalyst works by providing an alternative reaction pathway to the reaction product. The rate of the reaction is increased as this alternative route has a lower activation energy than the reaction route not mediated by the catalyst.
What is a catalyst in a chemical equation?
Sometimes a catalyst is written above or below the arrow in a chemical equation, but it is never included with the reactants or products. In general, catalysts work by providing a place where reactants can come together to react.