reaktiokatalyyttinä

Reaktiokatalyyttinä, meaning "as a reaction catalyst" in Finnish, describes the role of a substance in accelerating a chemical reaction without being consumed in the process. A catalyst increases the rate of a reaction by providing an alternative reaction pathway with a lower activation energy. This means that less energy is required for the reactants to transform into products, leading to a faster overall reaction.

Catalysts do not alter the equilibrium position of a reversible reaction; they only affect the rate at which equilibrium is reached. They can be used in various industrial processes, such as in the production of ammonia (Haber-Bosch process), the refining of petroleum, and the synthesis of plastics. Catalysts can be homogeneous, meaning they are in the same phase as the reactants, or heterogeneous, where they exist in a different phase. Enzymes, which are biological catalysts, play crucial roles in virtually all biochemical reactions within living organisms. The careful selection and use of catalysts are fundamental to efficient and sustainable chemical manufacturing.