Understanding catalysis involves grasping several key concepts:
Activation Energy - The minimum energy required for a chemical reaction to occur. Catalysts lower the activation energy. Catalytic Cycle - The sequence of steps that a catalyst undergoes during a reaction. Turnover Frequency (TOF) - A measure of catalytic activity, defined as the number of substrate molecules converted per catalyst site per unit time. Selectivity - The ability of a catalyst to direct a reaction to produce a specific product. Enzyme Catalysis - Catalysis carried out by biological molecules called enzymes.
