Catalysis
Definition
Catalysis is the process by which catalysts speed up chemical reactions without being consumed or altered themselves.
Analogy
Imagine you're trying to slide down a really tall slide at a playground. It's scary because it's so high! But if there was something (like gravity) that could help you go down faster without getting hurt itself, wouldn't that be great? That's what catalysts do in chemical reactions - they speed things up without getting used up themselves!
Related terms
Catalyst: A substance that increases the rate of a chemical reaction by reducing energy barriers but remains unchanged itself after the reaction.
Reaction Rate: The speed at which reactants are converted into products in a chemical reaction.
Activation Energy: The minimum amount of energy required for reactants to form products in a chemical reaction.
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