What Are Some Examples of Water's Role in Catalytic Reactions?
Water plays a vital role in a variety of catalytic reactions. In the Haber-Bosch process for ammonia synthesis, water is a byproduct that can affect the equilibrium of the reaction. In the Fischer-Tropsch synthesis, water can influence the selectivity of hydrocarbon products. Water is also essential in biocatalysis, where enzymes catalyze reactions in an aqueous environment. Another example is the catalytic conversion of biomass to biofuels, where water often serves as a medium for hydrolysis and other reactions.
