Catalysis

Catalysis is the change in rate of a chemical reaction due to the participation of a substance called a catalyst. Unlike other reagents that participate in the chemical reaction, a catalyst is not consumed by the reaction itself. A catalyst may participate in multiple chemical transformations. Catalysts that speed the reaction are called positive catalysts. Substances that slow a catalyst's effect in a chemical reaction are called inhibitors. Substances that increase the activity of catalysts are called promoters, and substances that deactivate catalysts are called catalytic poisons.

General Characteristics Of Catalyst: 1) The catalyst remains unchanged in amount and chemical composition at the end of the reaction. But it may undergo some physical change. 2) Only small quantity of the catalyst is generally needed. 3) The catalyst doesnt initiate the reaction. 4) The catalyst doesnt alter the position of the equilibrium. In reversible reaction. 5) The catalyst generally specific in its action. 6) The catalyst cannot alter the nature of products of the reaction.
CH3 CH2Cl

+
Toulene

Cl2

sunlight

HCl

7) Catalysis increase the rate of reaction by lowering the activation energy

Classification of catalysis:
Catalysis process can be classified generally according to their physical state, their chemical nature, or the nature of the reactions that they catalyze. Catalysts may be gases, liquids, or solids. In homogeneous catalysis, the catalyst is molecularly dispersed in the same phase (usually gaseous or liquid) as the reactants. In heterogeneous catalysis the reactants and the catalyst are in different phases, separated by a phase boundary. Most commonly, heterogeneous catalysts are solids, and the reactants are gases or liquids. Catalysis Classified into Two Main Categories: 1) Homogenous Catalysis, 2) Heterogeneous Catalysis

1) Homogenous Catalysis
In homogenous catalysis, the catalysis is in the same phase as reactants and its evenly distributed throughout this type of catalysis can occur in gas or liquid (solution) phase. Example : a)In Gas Phase : Oxidation of sulphr (SO2)to sulphur trioxide(SO3)with nitric oxide (NO) as catalyst. b) In Solution Phase: 1). Hydrolysis of cane sugar in aqueous solution in the presence of mineral acid as catalyst. H2SO4 C12H22O11+ H2O C6H12 O6 + C6 H12 O6 +H2SO4 Glucose Fructose

2).Decomposition of Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) in the presence of Iodine (I-) as catalyst. Iodine H2O2 2H2O + O2

2. HETEROGENOUS CATALYSIS : The catalysis in which the catalyst is in a different physical phase from the reactants is termed heterogeneous catalysis, most important of such reaction are those in which the reactants are in the gas phase while the catalyst is a solid the process is called Contact Catalysis. Examples: I) Heterogeneous Catalysis with gaseous reaction is (contact catalysis) a) Combination if sulfur dioxide (SO2) and oxygen in the presence of finally divided platinum or Vanadium pent-oxide (V2O5) (contact process for Sulfuric acid). 2SO2(g) +O2(g) V2O5 2SO3

b) Combination of nitrogen and hydrogen to form ammonia in the presence of finally divided iron (Haber process for ammonia). N2 + 3H2 Fe 2NH 3
+ Fe

II)The decomposition of potassium chlorate (KCLO3 )is catalyzed by manganese dioxide. 2KClO3 MnO2 2KCl+3O2+ MnO2

III) The hydrogenation of a carbon-carbon double bond The simplest example of this is the reaction between ethene and hydrogen in the presence of a nickel catalyst.

In practice, this is a pointless reaction, because you are converting the extremely useful ethene into the relatively useless ethane. However, the same reaction will happen with any compound containing a carbon-carbon double bond. One important industrial use is in the hydrogenation of vegetable oils to make margarine, which also involves reacting a carbon-carbon double bond in the vegetable oil with hydrogen in the presence of a nickel catalyst. Ethene molecules are adsorbed on the surface of the nickel. The double bond between the carbon atoms breaks and the electrons are used to bond it to the nickel surface.

Promoters:
The activity of a catalyst can often be increased by the addition of small quantity of a second material this second substance is either not a catalyst itself for the reaction or if may be promoter.

So a substance which though itself not a catalyst promotes the activity of catalyst is called a promoter.

Examples: Molybdenum (Mo)or aluminum oxide (AL2O3)promotes the activity of iron catalysis in the harbers synthesis for manufacture of ammonia.

Catalysis Poisoning :
A heterogeneous catalyst is rendered is effective by the of small amounts of impurities in the reactants. Substance which destroys the activity of catalyst to accelerate a reaction is called a poison and the process is called catalytic poisoning. Examples 1) The platinum catalyst used in the oxide of sulfur dioxide (contact process)is poisoned by arsenic oxide(Al2O3)

2) The platinum catalyst used in the oxide of hydrogen is poisoned by carbon monoxide

Autocatalysis:
When one of the product of a reaction itself acts a catalyst for that reaction the phenomenon is called Auto Catalysis. In auto catalysis the initial rate of the reaction rises of the catalytic product is formed instead of decreasing steadily the curve plotted between the reaction rate and time shows a maximum when the reaction is complete.

Examples: Hydrolysis of an Ester : The hydrolysis of ethyl acetate forms acetic acid and ethanol of their products acetic acid acts as a catalyst for the reaction.

Negative Catalysis:
When a catalyst reduces the rate of a reaction is called negative catalyst or inhibitor this phenomena is called the negative catalysis or inhibition it is a useful to slow down or stop altogether an unwanted reaction.

Examples: Oxidation of trichloromethane (CHCl3): Trichloromethane or chloroform is used as an anesthetic upon oxidation by air in forms carbonyl chloride(COCl2 )which is poisonous substance. 4CHCl3+3O2 4COCl2 +2H2O+2Cl2

2%of ethanol (C2H5 OH)when added to chloroform acts a negative catalyst and suppress the form of carbonyl chloride

Activation Energy & Catalysis:

The minimum amount of energy required to cause a chemical reaction is known as the Activation energy.

The activated molecules on collision first form an activated complex as a result of breaking and forming of new bond the activated complex dissociated to yields product molecules.