Catalysis

(see other glossary entries)

• In a chemical reaction, a catalyst is the opposite of an 'inhibitor'.
• A catalyst is the 'host' for reaction and transformation in other agents (chemicals).
• It does so without using much energy and without seriously affecting the process that it facilitates.

• This diagram shows how a catalyst 'assists' in a chemical reaction (X + Y) to produce Z.
• The assisted reaction is shown here as red.
• This reaction pathway differs from the reaction without a catalyst (black curve) in requiring less energy.
• The final result and the overall thermodynamics are the same.
• One may host many catalytic reactions in parallel.
• Importantly, to qualify as a 'catalyst' the catalytic chemical is not consumed by the process.

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See also:

• Bucky Fuller's notion of Trim Tab
• Feedback
• Emulsifier