The Langmuir-Hinshelwood Mechanism

The Langmuir-Hinshelwood mechanism describes how certain chemical reactions happen on surfaces, like catalysts. In this process, both reactant molecules first adsorb (attach) onto the catalyst surface. Once attached, they move around on the surface and interact with each other to form new products. Finally, the products detach from the surface. This mechanism helps explain how reactions can be more efficient when they occur on solid surfaces, by concentrating reactants and promoting interactions that might be unlikely in solution alone.