catalyst
substance that speeds up the rate of a chemical reaction
A catalyst is a substance that increases the rate of a chemical reaction without being consumed or permanently altered in the process. In other words, it speeds up the reaction without itself being used up. Catalysts work by lowering the activation energy required for a chemical reaction to occur. This allows the reaction to happen more quickly and with less energy input.
Catalysts are widely used in industry to make chemical reactions occur efficiently and cost-effectively. They are also used in many biological systems, such as enzymes, which are biological catalysts that help speed up chemical reactions within living cells.
Some common examples of catalysts include the platinum used to catalyze the conversion of gasoline to reduce emissions from cars, and enzymes used in the digestion of food. Many reactions that occur in the body, such as the breakdown of glucose during cellular respiration, also rely on catalysts to occur in a timely and efficient manner.
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