Kinetics of Catalyzed Reactions

Abstract

In 1836, Berzelius observed that there are some substances, which increase the rate of reaction without changing themselves. He thought that such a substance loosens the bonds holding the atoms in reacting molecule and hence helps in increasing the rate of reaction. Such a process was called catalysis (Greek: Kata = wholly, lein = to loosen) and the substance called catalyst. A number of cases are now known in which a catalyst slows down (retards) the rate of reaction. In general, the catalyst may be defined as ‘a substance, which alters the rate of reaction, remaining itself chemically unchanged at the end of the reaction’.