A catalyst is a substance that speeds up a chemical reaction, but is not consumed by the reaction; hence a catalyst can be recovered chemically unchanged at the end of the reaction it has been used to speed up, or catalyze.
Types of catalyst with examples:
Positive Catalysts
Catalysts which increase the rate of a chemical reaction are positive catalysts. It increases the rate of reaction by lowering the activation energy barriers such that a large number of reaction molecules are converted into products, thereby the percentage of yield of products increases.
Example: In the preparation of NH3 by Haber’s process Iron oxide acts as a positive catalyst and increases the yield of ammonia in spite of less reaction of Nitrogen.
Negative Catalysts
Catalysts which decrease the rate of reaction and negative catalyst. It decreases the rate of reaction by increasing the activation energy barrier which decreases the number of reactant molecules to transform into products and hence the rate of reaction decreases.
Example: Decomposition of Hydrogen peroxide into water and oxygen is retarded by using Acetanilide, this acts as a negative catalyst to decrease the rate of decomposition of hydrogen peroxide.
