katalitikus

Katalitikus is a Hungarian adjective describing processes, reactions, or substances that involve catalysis. The term is derived from katalizátor (catalyst) and ultimately from Greek katalysis, meaning to loosen or dissolve by action. In scientific usage, katalitikus characterizes mechanisms that proceed via a catalytic step rather than being consumed.

In chemistry, a katalitikus reaction proceeds by providing an alternative reaction pathway with lower activation energy. The catalyst participates in the mechanism but is regenerated at the end, so its overall amount remains constant. This property allows reactions to proceed more rapidly under milder conditions than in uncatalyzed cases.

Types include homogeneous catalysis, where the catalyst is in the same phase as reactants (for example, acid or base catalysis in solution); heterogeneous catalysis, where they are in different phases (for example, metal surfaces in hydrogenation or oxidation); and biocatalysis (enzymatic catalysis), where biological molecules speed up reactions under mild conditions with high specificity.

Applications of katalitikus processes span chemical manufacturing, energy conversion, environmental remediation, and biological systems. The term also appears in metaphorical use to describe processes that act as catalysts for change, accelerating developments without themselves being consumed.