Kimberly Lopez-Zepeda

English 363
Scientific Writing

Catalyst
A catalyst is a substance that speeds up the

rate of a chemical reaction, without attrition

or degradation, by creating an alternative

reaction pathway with a lower activation

energy (Figure1)1-2.
The maximum amount of energy required
for reactions to become products is known
as the activation energy 7.
Objects used in day-to-day life (e.g. soap,
detergent, cooking oil, etc.) are created by a
multitude of consecutive reactions. Each
Figure 1: Graphic relation of the
progress of reaction to energy of reaction.
The red outline represents a reaction done
without a catalyst; the green outline
represents a reaction with a catalyst. The
catalyzed reaction is seen to have a lower
activation energy than without a catalyst3.

individual reaction has an ideal pathway The addition of a catalyst allows difficult

with a required specific amount of energy reactions to occur by establishing an

for the reaction to occur. This amount of alternative pathway that allows reactants to

energy, known as activation energy, can come close with a lower energy requirement

vary and depends on a number of ( Figure 1).

macroscopic conditions like: molecular

1. Types
structure of solute, solvent, and

concentration. Reactions that have There are a number of different catalysts

exceptionally large activation energy are commonly used in reactions that are divided
impossible to complete without the help of a into three categories 2-5:
catalyst.

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Kimberly Lopez-Zepeda
English 363
Scientific Writing
A. Biological
B. Heterogenous (HeC)
C. Homogenous (HoC)
A biological catalyst falls within one of
two groups: enzymes or Ribosome
Nucleic Acids catalyst (commonly
known as ribozymes). These catalyst are
more utilized in biological research and
medical research. Majority of them are
used in the field of pharmaceuticals to
expedite the amount of medication made
every year 4.
Heterogenous catalyst are catalytic
substances that hold a different phase to
the reactants in solutions 1. They are
most commonly used in the solid phase
while the reactants are in the liquid or
gas phase. Some familiar HeC are toxic
metals like platinum, rhodium, lead,
platinum ,etc. A homogenous catalyst is
a type of catalyst that is presented in the
same phase as the reactants1-3. Unlike a
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HeC, a HoC is commonly used in the
liquid or gas phase. All three catalytic
substances have their own pros and cons
that differ form one another.
1.A Biological Catalyst
There are two types of biological catalyst
known as enzymes and ribozymes. Enzymes
consist of a unique accumulation of proteins
strands that determines an enzymes unique
functionality or capabilities4. A ribozyme
consists of a varying sequential strand of
nucleic acid. Similar to an enzyme, a
Figure 2: The enzyme, pectinase, has an
accumulation of four different proteins.
Each color seen in the image represents a
different protein with its unique
functionality. Switching a single protein
strand would completely change the
structure and functionality of the enzyme 5.
Kimberly Lopez-Zepeda
English 363
Scientific Writing
ribozyme’s unique combination of
nucleotides determines the different tasks it
can accomplish4-6. There are four distinct
Figure 3:
Presented is the
hammerhead
ribozyme. The
variance in color
distinguishes the
change in the
nucleotide
sequences.
nucleotides that can
be used to assembly a complete ribozyme.
The four specific nucleotides are:
adenine(A), guanine(G), cytosine(C), and
uracil(U)6 . The task that a ribozyme can
accomplish is dependent on the combination
and number of nucleotides in the structure.
A distinct combination of nucleotides gives
the ribozyme its own job that differs from
any other ribozyme with a different
sequence6. Our own body is able to create
their own ribozymes and enzymes that
conduct crucial catalytic reactions in our
body that help to maintain blood flow and
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nutrient uptake. Additionally, these
catalysts are known to not shift the chemical
equilibrium of the reaction it takes part in 4-6.
Chemical Equilibrium is the state where
the forward reaction is at the same rate as
the reverse reaction. Conclusively no
reaction is favored and both reactions take
place simultaneously9.
Due to the structural differences between an
enzyme and ribozyme, these two materials
do not overstep their range of reactivity.
Enzymes help to speed up biological
chemical reactions of oxidation-reduction
reactions4. While RNA catalyst, help to
speed up the rate of a reaction that helps to
increase cell organelle development in your
body6. In conclusion, one biological catalyst
cannot aid in certain reactions that the other
does.
1.B Heterogenous Catalyst
A HeC is one of the most commonly used
catalyst in industry that aid in the production
of petrochemicals, pharmaceuticals, and
many more1. It is distinguished from all
Kimberly Lopez-Zepeda
English 363
Scientific Writing

other catalyst for it being in a different phase enzymes and acid-base reactions are

as the reactants. Common HeC are pure identified as HoC, they are commonly

metals like platinum, titanium, rhodium, associated with other names6.

nickel, etc8. There are additional types of Organometallic catalyst is a well-known as

HeC that recall the use of a precious metal HoCand is composed of a central metal

on top of a support, these catalysts are surrounded byorganic molecules or atoms. .

known as supported metal catalyst (SMC)7. This creates a somewhat “dome” around the
Supported Metal Catalyst are constructed
metal atom4.
of a precious catalytic metal that is placed
on top of a metal oxide support (e.g. TiO2;
titanium dioxide)7. HoC have advantages to other catalyst

The use of SMC has become very popular in which aregreat selectivity, higher reaction

the field of catalysis and has broaden the efficenncy , and temperature controlled

field of research to help optimize the use of reactions 6. High selectivity makes every

catalyst in reactions. There catalyst make HoC specialized in completing a specific

use of micro amounts of a precious metal, task. Complete submergence in between

making it less costly while obtaining the reactants allows the interaction of the HoC

same or higher concentration of products8. and reactants to increase; increasing

utilization of the catalyst and increasing the

C. Homogenous Catalyst
speed of reaction. As well, these interactions
A catalyst implemented into a catalytic
increase when there is an increase in
reaction, conducted in a single phase, is
2-3
temperature3-7.
named a homogenous catalyst (HoC) . .

Examples of HoC are enzymes, acid-base 1.C Homogenous Catalyst

reactions, and organometallics3-5.Though

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Kimberly Lopez-Zepeda
English 363
Scientific Writing
A homogenous catalyst (HoC) helps to
increase the rate of a reaction and is
distinguished due to having the same phase
as that of the reactants8. An example of a
HoC are enzymes and acid-base reactions8-
10
. However, enzymes are most placed into
the category of biological catalyst. Acid-
base reactions are also not commonly
viewed as a HoC reaction10. Organometallic
catalyst is a well-known HoC. This catalyst
is composed of a metal atom in the center of
a molecule with attached organic molecules
extended from the central metal. This
creates a somewhat dome around the metal
atom4,10.
Some advantages of a HoC is that they are:
very selective, are submerged in between
reactants, and have reactivity that is
proportional to temperature8. High
selectivity makes every HoC specialized in
completing a specific task. Complete
submergence in between reactants allows
the interaction of the HoC and reactants to
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increase; increasing utilization of the
catalyst and increasing the speed of reaction.
As well, these interactions increase when
there is an increase in temperature7-9.
2. Anti-Catalyst
2.A Inhibitors
Just as there are catalyst that help to increase
the rate of a reaction, there are inhibitors that
help to slow down or prevent a reaction from
occurring. Inhibition of a reaction can occur
from the addition of an unknown material or
substance, a decrease in concentration of a
reactant, or a decrease of catalytic material10.
2.B Poisons
The term “poisons” refers to a substance that
has the capability of stopping or deactivating
a catalyst 11. Though the name can be seen as
a villain in this scenario, a poison can
sometimes be useful to create more
selectivity of a reaction, creating specific
products. Most poisons find a way to attach
themselves to the activation surface of a
Kimberly Lopez-Zepeda
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Scientific Writing

catalyst, leaving no space for a reaction to

occur11.

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Kimberly Lopez-Zepeda
English 363
Scientific Writing

References

1. “Heterogenous Catalyst” 2009. Retrieved from www.

Sciencedirect.com/topics/chemistry/heterogenous- catalyst
2. “Redox Catalysis.” Redox Catalysis - an Overview | ScienceDirect Topics,
www.sciencedirect.com/topics/chemical-engineering/redox-catalysis.
3. “Energy, Enzymes, and Catalysis Problem Set”; The Biology Project, University of
Arizona 2011. Retrieved from
,http://www.biology.arizona.edu/biochemistry/problem_sets/energy_enzymes_catalysis/0
1t.html
4. Cooper, Geoffrey M. “The Central Role of Enzymes as Biological Catalysts.” The Cell: A
Molecular Approach. 2nd Edition., U.S. National Library of Medicine, 1 Jan. 1970,
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK9921/.
5. Liu, Xiangyan; Kokare, Chandrakant; “Microbial Enzymes of Use of Industry”; 2017.
Retrieved from https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/neuroscience/pectin-lyase
6. Wilson, Timothy J, and David M J Lilley. “RNA Catalysis--Is That It?” RNA (New York,
N.Y.), Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, Apr. 2015,
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4371269/.
7. Bailie, J.E.,etc. “Supported Catalysts”; Encyclopedia of Materials: Science and
Technology, 2001. Retrieved from
https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/engineering/supported-metal-catalyst
8. Behera, Archanamayee; Rai, Diksha; Kulkarni, Suvarn; “Total Synthesis of Conjugation-
Ready Trisaccharide Repeating Units of Pseudomonas aeruginosa O11 and
Staphylococcus aureus Type 5 Capsular Polysaccharide for Vaccine Development” 2020.
Retrieved from https://pubs.acs.org/doi/pdf/10.1021/jacs.7b07093 (Heterogenous
catalyst)
9. “What is Chemical Equilibrium?” Siyavula: Technology-Powered Learning. Retrieved
from https://www.siyavula.com/read/science/grade-12/chemical-equilibrium/08-
chemical-equilibrium-01
10. “Catalysis” Taylor, Hiugh; Britannica, 2001. Retrieved from
https://www.britannica.com/science/catalysis#ref288779
11. “A Cure for Catalyst Poisoning ” Farmer, Marcus; Baran, Phil; Nature, 2015. Retrieved
from https://www.nature.com/articles/524164a

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