Question

What role does absorption play in heterogeneous catalysis?

Answer 1

Answer:

heterogenous catalyst make intermediate with reactant without involving in reaction ..it increases reaction rate because of absorption...

Answer 2

Answer :

1. In heterogeneous catalysis, generally the reactants are gaseous whereas catalyst is a solid. The reactant molecules are absorbed on the surface of the solid catalyst by physical absorption or chemisorption.

2. As a result, the concentration of the reactant molecules on the surface increases and hence the rate of reaction increases. Alternatively, one of the reactant molecules undergoes fragmentation on the surface of the solid catalyst producing active species which react faster.

3. The product molecules in either case have no affinity for the solid catalyst and are absorbed making the surface free for absorption. This theory is called absorption theory.