What is the Impact of Capillary Forces on Reaction Rates?
Capillary forces can influence reaction rates by affecting the availability of reactants at the active sites of the catalyst. In porous catalysts, capillary action can help draw reactants into the pores, thereby increasing the contact between the reactants and the catalyst. This can enhance the reaction rate. However, if the pores are too small, capillary forces might hinder the diffusion of reactants, leading to lower reaction rates.