Catalysts

Question 2

What is a catalyst?

Answer 2

A catalyst is a substance that speeds up a chemical reaction without being used up or chemically changed.

Question 3

Are catalysts specific to reactions?

Answer 3

Yes, catalysts are usually specific to a particular reaction.

Question 4

What are enzymes?

Answer 4

Enzymes are catalysts that work inside the cells of living organisms.

Question 5

What role do enzymes play in biological reactions?

Answer 5

Enzymes speed up biological reactions, such as digestion.

Question 6

What is lipase?

Answer 6

Lipase is an enzyme used in digestion to break down fats and oils (lipids) into fatty acids and glycerol.

Question 7

How do enzymes like lipase function?

Answer 7

Enzymes have a specific shape that fits into the molecule they will break apart or join together.

Question 8

What happens to a catalyst at the end of a reaction?

Answer 8

The mass of the catalyst at the end of the reaction will be the same as at the start.

Question 9

What is manganese dioxide’s role in a reaction?

Answer 9

Manganese dioxide acts as a catalyst in the reaction with hydrogen peroxide.

Question 10

What happens to manganese dioxide after the reaction?

Answer 10

All the manganese dioxide powder is still present at the end of the reaction, indicating it has not been used up or changed.