Catalysts and Chain Reactions Catalysis and Radical Chain Reactions. We shall begin the lecture by discussing catalysis.
Catalysts increase the rate of reaction, without being consumed in the reaction.
They normally act by creating an alternative, lower energy pathway between reactant and products. Two examples of catalysts that acts in this way will be discussed, one that acts homogeneously, and the other that acts heterogeneously. Whilst discussing heterogeneous reactions, we shall take the opportunity to investigate zero order reactions. These reactions are of particular importance in processes that are catalyzed by metals or by enzymes. In the second half of the lecture, the chlorination of methane will be used to illustrate the principle features exhibited by free radical chain reactions.