When say a metal like Platinum catalyzes a reaction, what exactly is it doing that is speeding up that reaction?
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A catalyst basically allows an intermediate step in a chemical reaction.
Every reaction has an activation energy that is required to start it, wich means a certain temperature is needed to make the reaction happen fast (since temperature is randomly distributed “too cold to react” means a few molecules will still react randomly, but that will be slow)
A catalyst basically splits that energy required by doing the reaction in two steps. Like, imagine instead of having to climb a 4 feet step you have to do 2 feet twice wich is much easier.
This results in much lower temperature being needed for a fast reaction.
So your chemical reacts with platinum, and that then reacts to the final result releasing the platinum again.
Random funfact: our body relies heavily on enzymes that work like catalysts. That way we can burn our food at body temperature and not at fat-fire temperature.
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