A catalyst is a substance that speeds up a chemical reaction without being consumed in the process. It lowers the activation energy required for the reaction to occur, allowing it to happen more quickly.
Catalysts work by providing an alternative pathway for a chemical reaction to occur. They lower the activation energy by stabilizing the transition state, making it easier for the reactants to form products.
No, a catalyst cannot make a reaction occur that is thermodynamically unfavorable. It can only speed up a reaction that would eventually occur on its own, but at a much slower rate.
No, there are many different types of catalysts, including heterogeneous and homogeneous catalysts. They can also vary in their composition and mechanism of action.
A reaction that has been catalyzed will occur at a faster rate and may produce a different product than the uncatalyzed reaction. The presence of a catalyst can also be confirmed through spectroscopic or kinetic analysis.