Chemistry 15- Uses of catalysts

Catalysts

  • Some transition metals are good catalysts. For example, most automobiles have an emissions-control device called a catalytic converter. This device contains a screen of platinum or palladium, along with rhodium, a metal.
  • The presence of the transition metals, along with the heat of combustion generated by an automobile engine, causes the exhaust coming from an internal combustion engine to be broken down from partially burned hydrocarbon compounds into less harmful compounds such as water vapor and carbon dioxide.


  • Read more: Physical Properties of Transition Metals | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/about_5467647_physical-properties-transition-metals.html#ixzz0tqOAwPej

    Similar to what we have learnt in Biology, catalysts in chemistry speeds up chemical reaction as well.

    For example, a catalyst of acidified dichromate ions or acidified permanganate ions can help speed up the reactions of oxidation of an (alcohol into an aldehyde?) etc.

    Catalysts are used for reactions which would usually be of a very slow speed.

    Note that the catalyst will not be broken down even after the chemical process.