How Catalysts Work

The video explains how modern cars produce less pollution due to catalytic converters, which use platinum and rhodium to speed up chemical reactions in exhaust emissions. It distinguishes between heterogeneous and homogeneous catalysts, highlighting their roles in reducing pollution and facilitating chemical reactions. The video also covers practical applications of catalysts in agriculture, such as ammonia fertilizer production, and in biology, where enzymes act as catalysts to speed up biological processes. Overall, catalysts are crucial in various fields for enhancing reaction efficiency and reducing environmental impact.

What is the primary function of a catalytic converter in cars?

• To enhance engine performance

• To speed up chemical reactions in exhaust emissions

• To reduce noise pollution

• To increase fuel efficiency

Which of the following best describes a heterogeneous catalyst?

• It changes during the reaction

• It is in the same phase as the reactants

• It is in a different phase than the reactants

• It is a liquid catalyst

How do catalysts affect the activation energy of a reaction?

• They eliminate the need for activation energy

• They increase the activation energy

• They decrease the activation energy

• They have no effect on activation energy

What role does iron play in the production of ammonia fertilizer?

• It acts as a reactant

• It is used to cool the reaction

• It serves as a catalyst

• It is a byproduct of the reaction

Which enzyme is responsible for breaking down starch into maltose during digestion?

• Lipase

• Protease

• Amylase

• Cellulase