RBS

I wanted to know how catalysts work. My teachesr just said that it lowers the activation energy of a reaction, so that the bonds are looser, and according to the simple collision theory, molecules are able to have more successful collisions. All this is well, but a little more detail as to how the activation energy is lowered would be helpful. Is there any formula based method or any other that can identify a catalyst for a reaction, or do you haver to find out by trial and error?

 

I am under the impression that catalysation has something to do with the catalyst's surface area. If so, for example in the case of the catalytic breakdown of Hydrogen Peroxide, say manganese dioxide is the catalyst, how does the reaction get faster, if the catalyst is settled at the bottom?

 

I'd greatly appreciate any help, as if a strange thought or idea arises in my mind, I find it hard to work on topics relating to that...

What isaction through inaction :

The concept of the Catalyst :The concept of Enablement :

Let usstudy the example of Hydrogen Peroxide : What happens with and without theCatalyst – Manganese Dioxide

HydrogenPeroxide is a reasonably stable chemical : on its own, the decomposition ofhydrogen peroxide is so slow that hydrogen peroxide solutions are commerciallyavailable.

Upon theaddition of a small amount of manganese dioxide, the hydrogen peroxide reacts rapidly.

This effect isreadily seen by the effervescence of oxygen. Or simply put, release of Oxygen.

The manganesedioxide is not consumed in the reaction, and thus may be recovered unchanged,and re-used indefinitely.

Modern Scienceis yet to understand the Physics of the Chemical Reaction that Catalysts enable.

It seems to befalling in the twilight zone : between science and religion. Or you can say, inthe Zone where Science and Religion meet. The zone of will. Of wantingsomething to happen. In the above example, Manganese Dioxide, persuades - HydrogenPeroxide to let go of the Oxygen that it has within it.

The use of theterm persuade is important – because it is not giving anything that physicsrecognizes – energy of any kind – chemical, kinetic or of any other kind.Sometimes it is said that it is providing a surface where the reaction can takeplace. But this is difficult to sustain – because surface can be provided bymany many substances - it is only the surface provided by this particularcatalyst ( in this case Manganese Dioxide ) that is acceptable as a surface bythe chemical.

In other words,when molecules of the chemical meet when they are sticking on to the catalyst,they behave differently, than when they are not sticking to the catalyst.

In the statewhen they are sticking to the catalyst, they seem to become different than whothey are when they are not sticking to it. Now what is it that they have, or donot have, when they are sticking to the catalyst. Physically speaking, there isnothing that they have or do not have – as defined by sub-atomic particles.What they have is something beyond physics.

To my mind, whatthe molecules have is something beyond matter – is knowledge.

In homeopathicmedicine, this knowledge is enhanced through multitude of meetings between theknowable substance and a ready to learn – neutral- substance ( Alchohol, orwater). As the dilutions increase- the potency increases. Each dilution meansanother set of meetings between the neutral substance and the knowledgeablesubstance – through the process of constant shaking of the mixture.

Thereupon theknowledge stays with the Neutral substance permanently. And is available forfurther transmission to the human intellect system to produce the desiredresponse from the body.

So there is aScience here, though it is not explainable under the laws of Physics as weunderstand it.

There is adifferent science which covers this knowledge – as per Mundaka Upanishad, it is called Para Vidya – as distinct from Apara whichcovers everything that is material – and is covered by modern science.