What is a catalyst?

A catalyst is defined as a substance that increases the rate of a chemical reaction without being consumed in the process. This means that catalysts facilitate the reaction between reactants by providing an alternate pathway for the reaction that has a lower activation energy. As a result, more reactant molecules have the necessary energy to undergo the reaction more quickly.

In many chemical processes, catalysts play a crucial role by allowing reactions to occur under milder conditions or at a faster rate, which is essential in various industrial and biological processes. For example, enzymes are biological catalysts that speed up metabolic reactions in living organisms, highlighting the importance of catalysts in both natural and engineered systems.

This understanding distinguishes catalysts from other types of substances that might affect reactions, such as those that could inhibit reactions or have no effect at all.