The Sabatier Principle

The Sabatier Principle states that for a chemical reaction to occur efficiently on a catalyst surface, the interaction between the catalyst and the reacting molecules should be balanced—not too weak or too strong. If the molecules stick too loosely, they won't react; if they stick too tightly, they won't release once reacted. Finding the optimal balance ensures the best activity and efficiency in processes like fuel production or industrial synthesis. Essentially, the ideal catalyst binds reactants just enough to facilitate the reaction without hindering product release.