Katalyzovat

Katalyzovat is a Czech verb meaning to cause or accelerate a chemical reaction by means of a catalyst. It is used in chemistry and biochemistry to describe the action of a substance that increases the rate of a reaction without being consumed in the overall process. The corresponding noun is katalýza, and the agent noun for a substance that performs catalysis is katalyzátor.

The term is derived from the noun katalýza (catalysis) and comes from Greek katalysis, via later European languages, with the Czech verb formed by the suffix -ovat from the stem.

A catalyst works by providing an alternative reaction pathway with lower activation energy, thereby increasing the rate of both the forward and reverse reaction. Catalysts are not consumed in the process. Catalysis occurs in various forms, including homogeneous catalysis, where the catalyst is in the same phase as reactants, and heterogeneous catalysis, where the catalyst is a distinct phase (often a solid surface). Biocatalysis, using enzymes, is a major branch, with high specificity for substrates.

In industry, catalysis enables processes such as the Haber-Bosch synthesis of ammonia (iron catalyst), the contact process for sulfuric acid (vanadium(V) oxide catalyst), and polymerization reactions. A catalyst speeds up the approach to equilibrium but does not alter the equilibrium constant itself.

Examples in biology include digestive enzymes that catalyze hydrolysis reactions, such as amylase and proteases. In everyday language, katalyzovat can describe any situation where a factor accelerates a process.