According to Surface adsorption theory heterogeneous catalysis has five stages:

Stage 1: Diffusion of Reactant(s) to the Surface: The rate at which reactants will diffuse to
the surface will be influenced by their bulk concentration and by the thickness of the boundary
layer.
Stage 2: Adsorption of reactants: Bonds are formed as the reactant(s) are adsorbed onto the
surface of the catalyst. The ability for an atom or molecule to stick to the surface is known,
brilliantly, as the Sticking Co-efficient. This is just the ratio or percentage of molecules that
end up sticking on the surface.
Stage 3: Reaction: Bonds form between the atoms and molecules on the surface
Stage 4: Desorption of products: Bonds are broken as the product(s) desorb from the surface.
Stage 5: Diffusion of Product(s) away from the Surface: The products are then desorbed
from the surface of the catalyst.
*Heterogeneous catalysis often involves gaseous molecules reacting at the surface of a solid
catalyst. This mechanism can be explained using the theory of adsorption.

Diffusion: SO2 gas and Oxygen gas diffuse to

the surface of the Vanadium(V) Oxide.

Diffusion to the surface

Adsorption: The reactant molecules are

chemically adsorbed onto the surface of the
Vanadium(V) Oxide. The bonds form between
the molecules and the Vanadium(V) Oxide are:
-strong enough to weaken the covalent bonds
within the Sulfur and oxygen molecules so the
atoms can react with each other
Adsorption
-Weak enough to break and allow the products to
leave the surface.

Reaction: the adsorbed Sulfur and Oxygen atoms

react on the surface of the Vanadium(V) Oxide to
form SO3.

Reaction

Desorption: The bonds between the SO3 and the

surface of the Vanadium (V) Oxide are eventually
broken

Desorption

Diffusion: SO3 diffuses away from the surface of the

Vanadium (V) Oxide.

Diffusion away from the surface