catalysts

[Tiffany Cao 1D]

Can catalysts appear in an overall rate law?

[Justin Chang 2K]

I am not completely sure, but I think catalysts can appear in the rate law. If there is more of the catalyst, then it makes sense that the rate would be faster since more catalysts are able to catalyze more reactions and thus the rate is faster.

[Sara Sasaki 1K]

Catalysts don't show up when writing the overall reaction, and aren't included in the rate law either. However, they indirectly change the k value of the rate law by lowering the activation energy of the reaction.

[YashDeshmukh1D]

Wait I thought catalysts could appear in the rate law if they are part of the slow step that determines the overall rate law? I think pages 651 and 652 of the textbook mention this.

[Dang Lam]

Yes, catalyst can appear in the overall rate law, intermediates are the ones that cannot appear in the overall rate law

[Cristina Sarmiento 1E]

Catalysts can be appear in the overall rate law, but sometimes they are cancelled out (e.g. consumed in the fast step before and produced in the slow step) and therefore would not appear in the rate law.