Catalyst

Chemicals that are not consumed in a reaction, but, which speed up the reaction rate. Catalysts aid to form a transition stateMaximas (peaks) on an energy diagram. A transition state represents the highest energy arrangement of atoms between two more stable forms. The energy required to pass through a transition state may be called the activation energy, ΔGz. which is lower in energy than the transition state without the catalyst (essentially decreasing activation energyAmount of energy that must be placed into a system to form an activated complex in a reaction. On an energy diagram, this is the difference in energy between the reactants and the transition state. The activation energy is often perceived as an energy barrier which must be overcome for). Since the barrier to the reaction is lower, the reaction rate increases in the presence of catalysts.