Catalysts in Industry
Chemistry: AQA GCSE Higher, topic 6.1.7
Catalysts in Industry
Catalysts are popular in industry for many reasons. But, there are disadvantages to using catalysts.
Advantage - cost-effective
- Despite the fact that some catalysts are expensive precious metals (e.g. platinum and palladium), they are often cost-effective to use.
- This is because a small amount can speed up a reaction by a lot. It may be cheaper to pay for the catalyst at the start and increase the rate of reaction after that.
- Paying for a catalyst may be cheaper than paying for the energy needed to increase either temperature or pressure.
Advantage - reduced burning of fossil fuels
- By reducing the necessary temperatures and/or pressures, fewer fossil fuels need to be burned.
- This means that we can reduce our negative environmental impact.
Disadvantage - toxicity
- But, many catalysts are toxic (e.g. transition metals), and these can escape into the environment and contaminate ecosystems.
Test yourself on Catalysts in Industry
Why does the use of catalysts in industry benefit the environment?
Which of the following is true about the use of catalysts in industry?
Why can using an expensive precious metal catalyst, such as platinum, still be cost-effective for a company?
Why might using a catalyst be more cost-effective than raising a reaction's temperature to speed it up?
Why can the toxicity of some industrial catalysts, such as transition metals, be a concern for the environment?