what do catalysts do in a chemical reaction

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Increases the rate of a chemical reaction

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Updated April 18, 2018 A catalyst is a chemical substance that affects the rate of a chemical reaction by altering the activation energy required for the reaction to proceed. This process is called catalysis. A catalyst is not consumed by the reaction and it may participate in multiple reactions at a time.

Usually when someone refers to a catalyst, they mean a positive catalyst, which is a catalyst that speeds up the rate of a chemical reaction by lowering its activation energy. There are also negative catalysts or inhibitors, which slow the rate of a chemical reaction or make it less likely to occur.

The phenomenon where catalysts show their activity define as the catalysis reaction in chemistry. It is mainly two types like homogeneous or heterogeneous catalysis. For example, hydrogen ion acts as a positive catalyst in the hydrolysis of ester or sugar without effect on chemical equilibrium.

Remember that with a catalyst, the average kinetic energy of the molecules remains the same but the required energy decreases (see image above). The effect of a catalyst on the activation energy of an endothermic reaction. The catalyst would act in the same way for an exothermic reaction.