Catalysis (/k??tæl?s?s/) is the increase in the rate of a chemical reaction due to the participation of an additional substance called a catalyst (/?kæt?l?st/). With a catalyst, reactions occur faster and require less activation energy. Because catalysts are not consumed in the catalyzed reaction, they can continue to catalyze the reaction of further quantities of reactant. Often only tiny amounts are required. Technical perspective In the presence of a catalyst, less free energy is required to reach the transition state, but the total free energy from reactants to products does not change.
