Question

Explain motions in catalysis

Answer 1

The rate of any catalysis can be increased by improving the frequency of collisions via:

• Increasing the molecular motion of the particles which can be done by introducing thermal energy to increase kinetic energy. When heat is added to a substance, the molecules and atoms vibrate faster. As atoms vibrate faster, the space between atoms increases. The motion and spacing of the particles determines the state of matter of the substance. The end result of increased molecular motion is that the object expands and takes up more space.
• The substrate and catalyst are usually moving randomly within the solution (Brownian motion). Brownian motion is the random movement of particles in a fluid due to their collisions with other atoms or molecules. Any factor that affects the movement of particles in a fluid impacts the rate of Brownian motion. For example, increased temperature, increased number of particles, small particle size, and low viscosity increase the rate of motion.