AP Chemistry / Unit 5: Kinetics
5.11 Catalysis
Notes
A catalyst gives a new pathway with lower $E_a$, speeding up both forward and reverse reactions. It doesn't change $\Delta H$ or the equilibrium position.
- Types: acid-base, surface (heterogeneous), enzyme.
Practice
A catalyst changes:
Lower barrier.
Adding a catalyst to a system at equilibrium:
It speeds both directions equally.
Catalytic converters in cars are an example of:
Gases react on a metal surface.
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