Science
How does a catalyst work?
A catalyst works by giving a chemical reaction an easier route. Every reaction must climb an energy 'hill' (the activation energy) to happen; a catalyst lowers that hill — often by holding the reacting molecules in just the right position — so far more collisions succeed and the reaction speeds up, while the catalyst itself comes out unchanged.
See it in motion.
Watch a 2-minute animated lesson that shows exactly how a catalyst works.
Step by step
- 1Lowers the reaction's activation-energy 'hill'.
- 2Often holds molecules in the right position to react.
- 3More collisions succeed, so the reaction speeds up.
- 4The catalyst is regenerated, not consumed.
Frequently asked questions
- How does a catalyst work?
- It provides a lower-energy pathway, so more molecules have enough energy to react — speeding the reaction up without being used up.
- Does a catalyst change the products?
- No — it only changes how fast the same products form; it doesn't alter what's made.
- What is a catalytic converter?
- A car part that uses metal catalysts to turn harmful exhaust gases into less toxic ones as they pass through.