What is the Difference Between Catalyst and Inhibitor?
🆚 Go to Comparative Table 🆚The main difference between a catalyst and an inhibitor lies in their effects on chemical reactions. Here are the key distinctions:
- Catalyst: A catalyst is a substance that increases the rate of a chemical reaction without being consumed in the process. It provides an alternative reaction pathway, typically by producing a reaction intermediate, which helps to reduce the activation energy required for the reaction to occur.
- Inhibitor: An inhibitor is a substance that decreases the rate of a chemical reaction or prevents it from occurring altogether. Unlike catalysts, inhibitors do not provide a reaction pathway to reduce the activation energy. Instead, they either deactivate the catalyst or remove reaction intermediates.
In summary, a catalyst speeds up a chemical reaction, while an inhibitor slows it down or stops it completely.
On this pageWhat is the Difference Between Catalyst and Inhibitor? Comparative Table: Catalyst vs Inhibitor
Comparative Table: Catalyst vs Inhibitor
The main difference between a catalyst and an inhibitor is that a catalyst increases the rate of a reaction, while an inhibitor decreases the rate of a reaction or stops it completely. Here is a table summarizing the differences between the two:
| Catalyst | Inhibitor |
|---|---|
| Speeds up the rate of a chemical reaction | Slows down the rate of a chemical reaction or stops it completely |
| Participates in the chemical reaction but is not consumed | Participates in the chemical reaction but is not consumed |
| Provides an alternative reaction pathway with lower activation energy | Does not provide a reaction pathway to reduce the activation energy |
| Can change both the rates of the forward and reverse reactions, as well as the equilibrium point | Causes a change in the concentration of reactants, which affects the equilibrium point |
Both catalysts and inhibitors affect the rate of a chemical reaction, but they have opposite effects on the rate of a reaction and do not affect the position of equilibrium.
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