Catalysts

[NatBrown1I]

How can you tell which is the catalyst in the reaction?

[ian_haliburton_1f]

The catalyst will appear from the beginning in the proposed reaction mechanism, but it will not appear in the overall equation because it will not be used up in the reaction and will therefore appear as both a reactant and a product in the elementary reactions, causing it to cancel out overall.

[Kyither Min 2K]

The catalyst will be needed for the reaction to occur and therefore will be present before the reaction takes place. It will then get made again (or not used up) so the catalyst will then be present before the reaction takes place and after the reaction takes place.

[Megan_Ervin_1F]

Also remember that it is acceptable for a catalyst to appear in the rate law

[Sophie Roberts 1E]

It is important to differentiate between a catalyst and an intermediate. A catalyst is present from the beginning of the reaction and is not consumed. However, an intermediate is produced by the reaction and is used up in the reaction.

[Rhea Churi 4K]

A catalyst is there in the beginning of the reaction and is then recreated at a later step of the reaction.

[Angela Cong 3C]

In lecture, Lavell mentioned that catalyst are present at the beginning of the equation as they are needed for the reaction to take place. Whereas an intermediate is produced as a product but then used up as an reactant.