Question

Differentiate between the following:

A catalyst and a promoter.

Answer 1

• Catalyst: “A substance that alters the rate of a chemical reaction.”
  e.g. MnO₂, V₂O₅, Fe, Pt. etc.
  The positive catalyst: A catalyst that speeds up the reaction.
  Negative catalyst: A catalyst that reduces the rate of reaction, e.g. alcohol.
  Enzymes are biological catalysts present in the human body and accelerate the biochemical reactions in the body.
• Promotors: Promotors are a catalyst to catalyst, i.e. a substance which increases the activity of a catalyst.
  Molybdenum [MO] is added to the catalyst iron [Fe] to increase its efficiency.