catalytic reactions

Catalytic reactions involve a substance called a catalyst that speeds up a chemical process without being consumed itself. The catalyst provides an alternative pathway with lower energy requirements, making reactions occur faster or under milder conditions. Think of it like a facilitator or a shortcut that helps reactants turn into products more efficiently. Catalysts are essential in many industries, such as producing fuels, medicines, and plastics, because they improve efficiency, reduce energy use, and often lead to cleaner processes. Importantly, because catalysts aren’t consumed, they can be reused repeatedly.