What is the Mechanism Behind Lowering Activation Energy?
The mechanism through which a catalyst lowers the activation energy involves several steps:
Adsorption: Reactants are adsorbed onto the surface of the catalyst. Formation of intermediate: The catalyst provides a surface or environment where intermediate species can form more easily. Lower transition state: The intermediate species transition through a lower energy state compared to the uncatalyzed reaction. Desorption: The products are desorbed from the catalyst surface, freeing it to participate in another reaction cycle.
