Adsorption - Atkins

4 important questions on Adsorption - Atkins

What is a hetergeneous catalyst?

A catalyst in a different phase from in which reactants and products are found.

What is a surface catalysed unimolecular reaction?

A reaction where an adsorbed molecule undergoes decomposition on a surface.

What is a con of the Eley-Rideal mechanism

  • Limited applicability to certain reactions
  • Complex mechanism
  • Requires specific conditions
  • May lead to low yields
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Why does the activity of a catalyst decline if the strenth of the substrate-adsorbate interaction becomes too strong?

When the interaction between a substrate and adsorbate is excessively strong, several issues arise:
  • Blocking Active Sites: Strong adsorption can saturate catalyst sites, preventing new reactants from accessing them.
  • Reduced Mobility: If the adsorbate is strongly bound, it may not desorb easily, hindering the product formation.
  • Deactivation: The catalyst may undergo structural changes or poisoning, leading to a decline in activity.
  • Limited Turnover: Overall reaction rates decrease, as fewer molecules can participate in catalytic cycles.

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