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A catalyst works by providing a reaction route with a lower activation energy. An inhibitor slows a reaction and can work in several ways, for instance by tying up one of the reactants. We also use the term when we say catalyst inhibitor, which is something which binds to the active sites on a heterogeneous catalyst.

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6y ago
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12y ago

Inhibitors slow a chemical reacion by increasing the energy of the reaction pathway and blocking the normal reaction pathway.

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9y ago

Catalysts mostly speed up a chemical reaction.

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Q: Do catalysts speed up a chemical reaction or slow it down?
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What are catalysts that slow down a reaction?

Inhibitors can slow down a reaction by interfering with the chemical process or by reducing the activity of the catalyst. Changes in temperature or pH levels can also have an inhibitory effect on reactions by altering the conditions necessary for the reaction to occur. Additionally, the presence of impurities or contaminants can disrupt the reaction process and slow down the overall rate of reaction.


What is a substance that lowers the activation energy for a chemical reaction but is not changed or used up in the reaction?

This is called a catalyst. In biology, it is referred to as an enzyme (biological catalyst). Catalysts can also be used to speed up or slow down chemical reactions.


What role do catalysts play in chemical reactions?

A catalyst is a chemical species that alters the rate of a chemical reaction without undergoing any type of change. Such catalysts that slow down a reaction are called negative catalysts or poison.


What is the name of substance that slows reaction?

The substance that slows down a chemical reaction is an inhibitor. Instead you could also call an inhibitor an anticatalyst.-anticatalyst `antee'katlist1. (chemistry) a substance that retards a chemical reaction or diminishes the activity of a catalyst


What does biological catalyst mean?

Enzymes are biological catalysts. This means they speed up a chemical reaction, but are not broken down or changed by it. They lower the amount of energy required for a chemical reaction to tack place.

Related questions

What are catalysts that slow down a reaction?

Inhibitors can slow down a reaction by interfering with the chemical process or by reducing the activity of the catalyst. Changes in temperature or pH levels can also have an inhibitory effect on reactions by altering the conditions necessary for the reaction to occur. Additionally, the presence of impurities or contaminants can disrupt the reaction process and slow down the overall rate of reaction.


What is a substance that lowers the activation energy for a chemical reaction but is not changed or used up in the reaction?

This is called a catalyst. In biology, it is referred to as an enzyme (biological catalyst). Catalysts can also be used to speed up or slow down chemical reactions.


How do catalysts differ from inhibitors?

Inhibitors slow down chemical reactions. Catalysts speed up reactions.


What role do catalysts play in chemical reactions?

A catalyst is a chemical species that alters the rate of a chemical reaction without undergoing any type of change. Such catalysts that slow down a reaction are called negative catalysts or poison.


What roles do enzyme play in digestion?

Enzymes are proteins that act as biological catalysts. Catalysts are substances that accelerate a chemical reaction. They decrease the activation energy of a chemical reaction.


What type of substance slows down chemical reaction?

Chemical reactions can be either sped up or slowed down by catalysts.


Does the addition of a catalyst to a chemical reaction increase the reaction rate?

Most catalysts do, but not all. Some catalyst can also slow down the speed, so they are generally referred to as Negative catalyst


What does a enzyme do in chemical reaction?

An enzyme generally lowers the activation energy necessary for a reaction to proceed. This in turn may cause more of the reactants to go to products.


What is the name of substance that slows reaction?

The substance that slows down a chemical reaction is an inhibitor. Instead you could also call an inhibitor an anticatalyst.-anticatalyst `antee'katlist1. (chemistry) a substance that retards a chemical reaction or diminishes the activity of a catalyst


What do catalysts do to the activation energy of a chemical reaction?

Catalysts lower the activation energy required for a chemical reaction to occur. By providing an alternative reaction pathway with a lower activation energy, catalysts increase the rate of reaction without being consumed in the process.


What does biological catalyst mean?

Enzymes are biological catalysts. This means they speed up a chemical reaction, but are not broken down or changed by it. They lower the amount of energy required for a chemical reaction to tack place.


What is the the purpose of catalysts and inhibitors in a reation?

Catalysts speed up chemical reactions by lowering the activation energy required for the reaction to occur. Inhibitors, on the other hand, slow down or prevent chemical reactions by interfering with the reaction mechanism. Both catalysts and inhibitors play crucial roles in controlling the rate and extent of chemical reactions.