Katalüüsitegevus

Katalüüsitegevus refers to the ability of a substance, known as a catalyst, to increase the rate of a chemical reaction without being consumed in the process. This acceleration is achieved by providing an alternative reaction pathway with a lower activation energy. Catalysts do not alter the equilibrium position of a reversible reaction; they only influence the speed at which equilibrium is reached.

The mechanism of catalysis often involves the temporary formation of intermediate compounds between the catalyst and the reactants. These intermediates are less stable than the reactants or products, thus facilitating the reaction. Once the reaction is complete, the catalyst is regenerated in its original chemical form, ready to catalyze further reaction cycles.

Catalysis is broadly divided into homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysis. In homogeneous catalysis, the catalyst exists in the same phase as the reactants, typically in the liquid or gaseous state. In heterogeneous catalysis, the catalyst is in a different phase from the reactants, most commonly a solid catalyst with liquid or gaseous reactants. Enzymes are biological catalysts that play crucial roles in virtually all biochemical processes. The effectiveness of a catalyst is often quantified by its turnover number, which represents the number of times a single catalyst molecule can convert reactant to product per unit time.