Question

What is catalysis? How is catalysis classified? Give two examples for each type of catalysis.

Answer 1

Hint: Catalysis is the process of accelerating the rate of a chemical reaction by adding a substance known as a catalyst. Catalysts are not consumed in the catalyzed reaction but can act repeatedly.

Complete step by step answer:
In this question we have been asked 3 sub-questions. The 1st one is about what is catalysis, the 2nd one is about the type of catalysis and the 3rd one is about the example of catalysis. We'll solve this question in a sequential order. So, the first one is about what is catalysis? Catalysis is a process by which the rate of reaction increases, this happens by addition of a substance called catalyst and in biology we call it enzyme. When a catalyst is added in a solution, it brings some changes in the reaction like orienting the reactants in such a way that they collide easily and accelerate the rate of reaction. Now, what is the type of catalysis?
Catalysis is mainly classified into two categories
(i) Homogeneous catalysis: In these catalysts, the physical state of a catalyst is the same as the physical state of reagents.
(ii) Heterogeneous catalysis: In this catalysis, the physical states of the catalyst and reagents are different.
Now we come to example of catalysis:
1. Example of homogeneous catalysis: \[2S\mathop O\nolimits_2 \left( g \right) + \mathop O\nolimits_2 \left( g \right)\; \to NO\left( g \right){\text{ + }}2S\mathop O\nolimits_3 \left( g \right)\]
2. Examples of heterogeneous catalysis: \[2S\mathop O\nolimits_2 \left( g \right) + \mathop O\nolimits_2 \left( g \right)\;\xrightarrow{{Pt(s)}}2S\mathop O\nolimits_3 \left( g \right)\]

Note:
Catalysis can be divided into 4 types on the basis of catalyst: (1) Homogeneous, (2) Heterogeneous (solid), (3) Heterogenized homogeneous catalyst and (4) Biocatalysts.