Answer to Question #169446 in Chemistry for Phyroe

Question

What is the difference between a surface catalyst and a catalyst which enters a solution?

Answer 1

Surface (heterogeneous) catalyst is a solid and the reactants are gaseous. As a result, the rate-limiting step occurs at the solid surface. For surface catalysts, phase boundaries are always observed

between the catalyst and the reactants. In contrast, homogeneous catalysis (catalyst in the solution), catalyst, reactans and products are present in the same phase.