Many metallic catalysts, particularly the precious-metal ones, are often deposited as very thin films on a substance of high surface area per unit mass, such as alumina 1Al2O32 or silica 1SiO22. (b) How does the surface area affect the rate of reaction?

Key Concepts

Surface Area to Volume Ratio

The surface area to volume ratio is a critical factor in chemical reactions, particularly for catalysts. A higher surface area allows more reactant molecules to interact with the catalyst at any given time, increasing the likelihood of collisions and, consequently, the rate of reaction. This principle is especially important in heterogeneous catalysis, where the catalyst is in a different phase than the reactants.

Catalysis

Catalysis refers to the process of increasing the rate of a chemical reaction by adding a substance known as a catalyst. Catalysts work by providing an alternative reaction pathway with a lower activation energy, allowing more reactant molecules to convert into products more quickly. In the context of metallic catalysts, their effectiveness is often enhanced by their high surface area, which facilitates more active sites for reactions.

Reaction Rate

The reaction rate is a measure of how quickly reactants are converted into products in a chemical reaction. It can be influenced by several factors, including concentration, temperature, and the presence of a catalyst. In the case of catalysts with high surface areas, the increased availability of active sites leads to a higher frequency of effective collisions, thereby accelerating the overall reaction rate.