Catalysts

Catalysts increase the rate of a reaction

by decreasing the activation energy
Catalysts change the mechanism
Catalysts do not change the equilibrium
constant
Catalysts are not consumed
A small quantity of catalyst should be able
to affect

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Catalysis
Heterogeneous catalysisthe reactants and the catalyst are in
different phases.
catalyst = solid reactants = li quid/gas
Homogeneous catalysiscatalyst and reactants are in the same
phase, usually liquid.

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Homogeneous catalysis

Heterogeneous catalysis

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Catalysis
Positive catalysis

2KClO3

MnO2

270 C

2KCl 3O2

Negative catalysis

2CHCl3 O2

Alcohol

2COCl2

2HCl

Auto catalysis

CH3COOC2H5 H2O

CH3COOH

C2H5OH

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MUKESH SHARMA

MUKESH SHARMA

Shape- Selective Catalyst Zeolites

The catalytic reaction that dependsupon the pore

structure of the
catalyst and the size of the reactant and product
molecules is called
Zeolites are good shape-selective catalysts
because of their
honeycomb-like structures
. An important zeolite catalyst used in the
petroleum industry is ZSM-5. It converts
alcohols directly into gasoline (petrol) by
dehydrating them to give a mixture of
hydrocarbons.

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Typically involves 4 steps:

1.
2.
3.
4.

Adsorption and activation of the reactants

Migration of the adsorbed reactants on the surfac
Reaction of the adsorbed substances
Escape, or desorption, of the products

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Enzymes
Enzymes are catalysts
in biological systems.
The substrate fits into
the active site of the
enzyme much like a
key fits into a lock.

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5.2.4 Enzyme Catalysis

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ENZYME
ENZYME

SOURCE

ENZYMATIC REACTIONS

Invertase

yeast

Sucrose Glucose and

fructose

Zymase

Yeast

Glucose Alcohol+co2 + Water

Diastase

Malt

Starch Maltose

Maltase

Yeast

Maltose Glucose

Urease

Soyabean

Urea rarr; Ammonia and

carbon dioxide

pepsin

Stomach

Proteins Amino acids

Table 5.2: Some Enzymatic Reactions

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Some Industrial Catalytic

Processes
Process

Catalyst

1.Habers process for the

manufacture of ammonia
N (g) + 3H (g) 2NH (g)

Finely divided iron,

molybdenum as promoter;
conditions: 200 bar pressure
and 723-773K temperature.
Now-a-days, a mixture of iron
oxide, potassium oxide and
alumina is used.

2. Ostwalds process for the

manufacture of nitric acid.
4NH (g) + 5O (g) 4NO(g) +
6H O(g)
2NO(g) + O (g) 2NO (g)
4NO (g) + 2H O(l) + O (g)
4HNO (aq)

Platinised asbestos;
temperature 573K.

3. Contact process for the

manufacture of sulphuric acid.
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2SO (g) + O (g) 2SO (g)
2

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