1) why arent they consumed in the reaction ( can you explain step by step how it influences the reaction?)
2) is it energy related?
In: 4
For a lot of things, the catalyst is a surface of some type. One of the reactants attaches itself to the catalyst, and that binding process causes the reactant to slightly change its shape (which consequently makes the reaction barrier lower). Then the second reactant can come in and has better access to react with the first one—maybe the binding process leaves the reaction site a little more exposed, maybe it just moves some of the electrons around enough to make it a more reactive site. Once the reaction has happened, the products are able to release from the catalyst and move on.
You can think about it sort if like trying to write on a piece of paper. You can hold the paper in one hand and draw on it with the other, but it’s faster and easier if you put the paper down in a table first. When you’re done, the paper and your writing implement are both changed (slightly) but the table is just the same as it was.
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