Give five properties that make a catalyst industrially useful.
The correct answer and explanation is:
Five properties that make a catalyst industrially useful are:
- High Activity: A good catalyst should have a high catalytic activity, meaning it should increase the rate of the chemical reaction significantly, even in small amounts. This is essential for maximizing productivity in industrial processes without needing large amounts of catalyst.
- Selectivity: A catalyst should exhibit selectivity, which means it should favor the desired reaction over unwanted side reactions. High selectivity ensures that the product yield is maximized and minimizes the formation of undesirable by-products, which is important for both economic and environmental reasons.
- Stability: An industrial catalyst must be stable under the conditions of the reaction. This includes resistance to deactivation due to factors like temperature, pressure, and exposure to reactive chemicals. If a catalyst deactivates quickly, it needs to be replaced or regenerated, which increases operational costs and reduces efficiency.
- Reusability: A good catalyst should be reusable, meaning it can facilitate multiple reaction cycles without significant loss of its activity. This property reduces the need for expensive fresh catalyst materials and contributes to the overall cost-effectiveness of the process.
- Non-toxicity and Environmental Compatibility: The catalyst should not release harmful or toxic substances during the reaction. Since industrial processes can have a large-scale environmental impact, using a non-toxic and environmentally friendly catalyst is crucial for sustainability. This also ensures that the process complies with regulatory standards regarding emissions and waste disposal.
These properties make catalysts indispensable in industrial applications such as petroleum refining, chemical production, and environmental remediation. They increase efficiency, lower costs, and help minimize the ecological footprint of chemical processes.