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A catalyst is a substance that initiates or increases the rate of a chemical reaction without itself undergoing any permanent chemical change
Surface catalysis maximizes the surface area of a catalyst particle so more reactions can occur on the "active sites", resulting in an overall faster reaction.
The smaller the catalyst particle size,
the larger surface area for a given mass of particles.
Catalytic converters are a type of gas converter that converts toxic gases such as carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, and nitrogen oxides into harmless gases such as water vapor and oxygen.
A catalytic converter is a combination of platinum (Pt), palladium (Pd), and rhodium (Rh) metals that coat a ceramic honeycomb contained in a metal casing. The platinum and other metals act as the catalyst in these reactions. The honeycomb structure of the converter maximizes the surface area for the gases to react.
The first step in the catalytic converter uses platinum and rhodium to reduce the nitrous oxides. The metal catalysts remove a nitrogen atom from NO allowing the remaining oxygen atoms to form O2 the the pulled apart nitrogen atoms to form N2. Both of these gases are completely harmless and already make up a vast majority of the air we breath
This process takes nitrogen, N2, and hydrogen, H2, from the air to synthesize ammonia, NH3.
Nitrogen rejuvenates soil and would be a very good fertilizer, but it has strong triple bonds that make it nutritionally unavailable. That is why ammonia is a common fertilizer.
Nitrogen is so non-reactive that without a catalyst during the production of ammonia, no observable reaction would even occur.
Iron catalysts (with added potassium hydroxide) are used to accelerate this reaction.
The second stage of the catalytic converter is coated with platinum and palladium and turns carbon monoxide and unburned hydrocarbons into water vapor and carbon dioxide. Both also harmless gases.
Works Cited
"Catalytic Converters." - Chemwiki. 07 Nov. 2013 <http://chemwiki.ucdavis.edu/Physical_Chemistry/Kinetics/Case_Studies/Catalytic_Converters>.
"CurioCity by Let's Talk Science Content." CurioCity by Let's Talk Science Content. 07 Nov. 2013 <http://www.explorecuriocity.org/Content.aspx?contentid=1779>.
"The Haber Process." Chemguide. Jim Clark, n.d. Web. 7 Nov. 2013. <http://www.chemguide.co.uk/physical/equilibria/haber.html>.
Lew, Jennifer. "Catalytic Hydrogenation of Alkenes." - Chemwiki. University of california. 07 Nov. 2013 <http://chemwiki.ucdavis.edu/Organic_Chemistry/Hydrocarbons/Alkenes/Reactions_of_Alkenes/Catalytic_Hydrogenation>.
"Oils & Shortenings - Hydrogenated oil vs. partially hydrogenated oil - Cargill Food Ingredients." Oils & Shortenings - Hydrogenated oil vs. partially hydrogenated oil - Cargill Food Ingredients. 2013. Cargill. 07 Nov. 2013 <https://www.cargillfoods.com/na/en/products/oils-shortenings/issues/partially-vs-fully-hydrogenated-oils/index.jsp>.
The catalysts needed are types of non soluble metals
hydrogen is a stable addition to most molecules to create more solid substance or to liquify coal