Catalysis

Catalysts are materials that promote or accelerate a chemical reaction, by associating with one or more of the reacting chemicals, and thereby lowering the energy barrier for reaction to occur. The association can be by adsorption or chemisorption (as is the case for solid, heterogeneous catalysts) or by complexation or coordination (as is the case for homogeneous catalysts, including enzymes). Catalysts can repeatedly promote the same reaction, without themselves being converted. The science of catalysis involves itself with developing new or improved catalysts, and with understanding the fundamental processes involved with catalytic reactions.