Phase Out of Lead Chemical Principles 10.
Catalysts reduce the activation energy necesary for a process to occur.
In chemistry we relate macroscopic, observable change to transformations at the molecular level that go unseen through the shorthand of symbolic representation. For the most part, we are comforted by the fact that we can at least observe the macroscopic. The catalytic converter represents a device from which we can measure successful outcomes. Without the converter, CO and NO levels from exhaust gases are much higher than with the converter in place. Throughout the country jurisdictions require measurement of tailpipe emissions to make certain that pollutants are controlled.