Learn About Catalysts

A catalyst is a substance you may come across in biology or chemistry. Or even at home when you do the washing!

A catalyst is a substance that speeds up a chemical reaction.

Often, the chemical reaction will take place on its own anyway, but maybe very slowly. By introducing a catalyst into the reaction, you can make the reaction take place faster.

Catalysts make the reactants turn into products faster. 

Catalysts are not used up once they take place in a chemical reaction. This means that they come out of the reaction the same as they went in, so they can be reused. 

Catalysts are often put into washing powder to enhance the breakdown of stains on our clothes - washing powders with catalysts in them are called 'biological' washing powders.

Let's try some questions on catalysts now.