How does a catalyst work?

[Steven Tjandra 1B]

Hello,

So I can understand how a heterogeneous catalyst works, it provides a surface for other things to react on. However, how do homogeneous catalysts like NO work. From bio and stuff, enzymes are catalysts that have a lock and key fit to their given substrate and keep the reactants together so they can react together with less activation energy. However how does something as simple as NO lower activation energy in a reaction?

Catatonic,
Steven Tjandra

[Chisomaga Azu]

Compared to heterogenous catalyst, a homogenous catalyst exists in the same phase as the reactants. The homogenous catalyst mixes uniformly with the reactant and facilitates the reaction whereas in a heterogenous catalyst, the reactant molecules adsorbs onto the surface of the catalyst.

[305920501]

Similar to a heterogenous catalyst, homogenous catalysts lower the transition state and provide a different pathway for the reaction. When looking at a reaction they can almost look like an intermediate, however they are not consumed by the reaction. The homogenous catalyst, while it can be small like NO, still has the power to change the pathway of the specified reaction by lowering the transition state.

[Sarah Egan 3A]

Homogeneous catalysts like nitrogen monoxide provide another reaction pathway that has a lower activation energy than the uncatalyzed reaction pathway.
Basically NO acts as a catalyst by interacting with the reactants to create a temporary intermediate stage. This intermediate stage makes it easier for the reaction to happen by reducing the energy needed to reach the transition state. As a result, the reaction can occur quicker, even at lower temperatures or with less energy input than if NO were not present.