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CATALYSIS

A catalyst is a substance which alters the speed of a chemical reaction


without itself undergoing any chemical change and the phenomenon is known
as catalysis.
Example,
MnO2 2KClO3 2KCl + 3O2
In the above reaction, MnO2 acts as a catalyst.

General characteristics of catalytic reactions


The following characteristics are generally common to most of the
catalytic reactions.
1. The catalyst remains unchanged in mass and in chemical composition
at the end of the reaction.
2. Only a small quantity of catalyst is generally needed.
3. A catalyst cannot initiate a reaction. The function of a catalyst is only
to alter the speed of the reaction which is already occurring at a
particular rate.
4. A catalyst does not alter the position of equilibrium in a reversible
reaction.
5. The catalyst is generally specific in its action.

Types of catalytic reactions


Catalytic reactions are classified into two broad types;
1. Homogeneous catalysis
2. Heterogeneous catalysis

1. Homogeneous Catalysis
In these reactions, the reactants and catalyst remain in the same phase.
The following are some of the examples of homogeneous catalysis.
i. Oxidation of SO2 to SO3 with oxygen in the presence of nitric oxide
as the catalyst in the lead chamber process.
NO(g)
2SO2(g) + O2(g) 2SO3
ii. Hydrolysis of methyl acetate is catalysed by H+ ions furnished by
hydrochloric acid.
HCl(l)
CH3 COO CH3(l) + H2O(l) CH3COOH + CH3OH

2. Heterogeneous Catalysis
The catalytic process in which the reactants and the catalyst are in
different phases is known as heterogeneous catalysis. Some of the examples
of heterogeneous catalysis are given below.
i. Oxidation of SO2 to SO3 in the presence of Pt metal or V2O5 as catalyst
in the contact process for the manufacture of sulphuric acid.
Pt(s)
2SO2(g) + O2(g) 2SO3
The reactants are in gaseous phase while the catalyst is in solid phase.
ii. Combination between nitrogen and hydrogen to form ammonia in the
presence of finely divided iron in Haber’s process.
Fe(s)
N2(g) + 3H2(g) 2NH3
The reactants are in gaseous phase while the catalyst is in solid phase.

Types of catalysts
The catalysts have been divided into different types according to their
behaviour and pattern of action.
1. Positive catalyst
A catalyst which enhances the speed of the reaction is called positive
catalyst and the phenomenon is known as positive catalysis. Various examples
are given below :
i. Decomposition of H2O2 in presence of colloidal platinum
Pt
2H2O2 2H2O + O2
ii. Decomposition of KClO3 in presence of manganese dioxide.
MnO2 2KClO3 2KCl + 3O 2

2. Negative Catalyst
There are certain substances which, when added to the reaction mixture,
retard the reaction rate instead of increasing it. These are called negative
catalysts or inhibitors and the phenomenon is known as negative catalysis.
The examples are given below.
i. The oxidation of sodium sulphite by air is retarded by alcohol.

Na2SO3 + O2 2 Na2SO4
ii. The decomposition of hydrogen peroxide decreases in presence of
glycerine.
Glycerine
2 H2O2 2 H2O + O2
3. Auto catalyst
In certain reactions, it is observed that one of the products formed during
the reaction acts as a catalyst for that reaction. Such type of catalyst is called
auto catalyst and the phenomenon is known as auto catalysis.
In the oxidation of oxalic acid by potassium permanganate, one of the
products MnSO4 acts as a auto-catalyst because it increases the speed of the
reaction.
COOH
i. 5 | + 2 KMnO4 + 3 H2SO4 2 MnSO4 + K2SO4 + 10 CO2 + 8H2O

4. Induced Catalyst
When one reactant influences the rate of other reaction, which does not
occur under ordinary conditions, the phenomenon is known as induced
catalysis.
Sodium arsenite solution is not oxidised by air. If, however, air is passed
through a mixture of the solution of sodium arsenite and sodium sulphite,
both of them undergo simultaneous oxidation. Thus sulphite has induced
the arsenite and hence is called induced catalyst.

Promoters
i. The activity of a catalyst can be increased by addition of a small quantity
ii. of a second material. A substance which, though itself not a catalyst, promotes
iii. the activity of a catalyst is called a promoter. Some examples of the promoters
iv. are given below.
v. i. In the Haber’s process for the synthesis of ammonia, traces of
vi. molybdenum increase the activity of finely divided iron which acts as a
vii. catalyst.
viii. Fe
ix. N2 + 3 H2 2 NH3
x. + Mo
xi. Catalytic Poisons
xii. A substance which destroys the activity of the catalyst is called a poison
xiii. and the process is called catalytic poisoning. Some of the examples are
xiv. (i) The platinum catalyst used in the oxidation of SO2 in contact process
xv. is poisoned by arsenious oxide.

SO2 + O2 2 SO3
Poisoned
by As2O3
(ii) The iron catalyst used in the synthesis of ammonia in Haber process
is poisoned by H2S
Fe
N2 + 3 H2 2 NH3
Poisoned
by H2S
Active Centres
The catalytic surface has unbalanced chemical bonds on it. The reactant
gaseous molecules are adsorbed on the surface by these free bonds. This
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accelerates the rate of the reaction. The distribution of free bonds on the
catalytic surface is not uniform. These are crowded at the peaks, cracks and
corners of the catalyst. The catalytic activity due to adsorption of reacting
molecules is maximum at these spots. These are, therefore, referred to as
the active centres. If a catalyst has more active centres, then its catalytic
activity is increased.
Chemical reactions are the process of breaking and making bonds, small molecules
combine together and to form new molecules and viz., versa. Fascinate about many chemical
reaction are with small quantity of foreign materials, they proceeded within few minutes. This
foreign substance is called as catalyst. A catalyst is defined as the substance which increases the
rate of a chemical reaction without undergoing any change and can be recovered completely at
the end of the reaction.

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