CATALYST

A catalyst is a substance that is used in some reactions either to increase or

decrease the rate of reaction. The substance acting as catalyst does not take part
in the reaction,
1. A catalyst is a chemical substance that can either accelerate or decelerate a
chemical reaction without itself undergoing any change.
2. A positive catalyst accelerates the rate of a chemical reaction.
Example:
i) Potassium chlorate decomposes only when heated up to 7000c, but
when added with MANGANESE DIOXIDE, it decomposes at 3000c
and evolves oxygen gas.
2KClO3 → 2KCl + 3O2
ii) Ammonia on reacting with oxygen, produces Nitric oxide and water in
the presence of catalyst PLATINUM. It is an important chemical
reaction used in in the manufacture of nitric acid in industries.
4NH3 + 5O2 → 4NO + 6H2O
iii) Hydrogen peroxide decomposes fast in the presence of catalyst
MANGANESE DIOXIDE.
2H2O2 → 2H2O + O2
In the above given reactions Manganese dioxide and platinum act as
positive catalyst.
2. Enzymes present in our body also act as positive catalyst. They are
proteins and act as positive catalysts in the biochemical reactions.
During digestion they break the complex substances present in the
food and form simpler substances in two or three hours ,otherwise it
will take months to get digest the food.
 3. The negative catalysts slow down the rate of chemical reactions.
Examples
i) Phosphoric acid slows down the rate of decomposition of hydrogen
peroxide.
ii) Alcohol acts as a negative catalyst and reduces the rate of oxidation of
Chloroform.
4. Some reactions take place by the absorption of Sound energy.
Example
Acetylene breaks up by absorbing sound energy and decomposes into Carbon and
Hydrogen.
C2H2 → 2C + H2
PROMOTERS:
The substances that improve the efficiency of catalysts and influence the rate of
chemical reactions are called promoters.
N2 + 3H2 → 2NH3.
Example
During the industrial manufacture of Ammonia by Haber process, iron acts as
catalyst and molybdenum or aluminium oxide acts as promoter.
A promoter cannot increase the rate of chemical reaction in the absence of a
catalyst.

CHARECTERISTICS OF CHEMICAL REACTIONS:

Chemical reactions can be characterized by observing the type of changes they
have undergone.
1. Evolution of a gas as one of the product.
Example:
i. Zinc reacts with dilute sulphuric acid and liberates hydrogen gas, with
effervescence.
Zn +H2SO4 → ZnSO4 + H2
ii. Calcium carbonate reacts with dilute hydrochloric acid and gives Carbon
dioxide.
 CaCO3 + 2 HCl → CaCl2 + H2O+ CO2
EFFERVESCENCE
The quick evolution of a gas seen as bubbles through a solution during a chemical
reaction is called effervescence.

2. Change in colour:
Some chemical reactions can be characterized by observing the change in colour
of the reactants.
Examples
i. Add a few pieces of iron in a solution of blue coloured copper sulphate
solution and observe. The blue coloured solution. Fades and finally
turns into light green due to the formation of the product ferrous
sulphate and reddish brown coloured particles settle down.

Fe + CuSO4 → FeSO4 + Cu

ii. When copper turnings are added to Conc. Sulphuric acid, it forms a
blue coloured solution of Copper sulphate with evolution of a gas that
has the smell of burning sulphur.

Cu + H2SO4 (conc.) → CuSO4 + SO2 + 2H2O.

3. Formation of Precipitates
In certain chemical reactions an insoluble solid substance having a definite
colour is formed which are known as precipitates. Such reactions can be
characterized from the precipitate formed.
Example:
i. When silver nitrate solution and Sodium chloride solutions are added
together, a white precipitate of Silver chloride is firmed.
AgNO3 + NaCl → AgCl + NaNO3
ii. When ferrous sulphate solution is added with Sodium hydroxide solution a
dirty green precipitate of Ferrous hydroxide is formed.
FeSO4 + 2NaOH → Fe (OH) 2 + Na2SO4.
 3. Change of state:
In some reactions the reactants and the products formed may be in different
states.
Example
i. Ammonia and Hydrogen chloride are gases, when they react together form as
solid product Ammonium chloride.
NH3+ HCl → NH4Cl
2. Carbon and sulphur are solids, on heating together they form a liquid Carbon
sulphide.
C + 2S → CS2.