Inorganic Catalysts

Inorganic Catalysts -- ANSWERS

II. Inorganic Catalysts

1. Do NOT contain the element C A R B O N

2. They are not usually found in L I V I N G organisms

B. Example of a chemical reaction using an inorganic catalyst: (Manganese Dioxide)

Manganese Dioxide as formerly pictured above is a very messy chemical. That's why this week's lab was declared "Go Grubby for Bio Day." (... and you thought it was only the yucky liver!!)

Mn0₂ (C A T A L Y S T)

2 H₂0₂2 H₂0 + 0₂

hydrogen peroxide (Manganese Dioxide) water + oxygen gas

            1.   What is/are the reactant(s) (substrate(s)) in the above equation?
                                                                                        _ only H₂0_{2 / _}hydrogen peroxide_{_}
     2.   What is/are the inorganic catalyst(s) in the above equation?         _Manganese Dioxide

3. What is/are the product(s) in the above equation? _both H₂0 + 0₂_

C. Interpretations of the above chemical reaction that uses a catalysts

1. If the amount of Mn0₂ increased, the RATE of formation of the oxygen gas
product would ... (increase, decrease, remain the same) _ INCREASE _

            2. If the amount of the catalyst increased, the product QUANTITY of oxygen gas
         produced would ...   (inc., dec. remains the same)                _ REMAIN THE SAME _
         SURPRISED? See the following pictorial analogy!

Remember, a catalyst only affects the rate of a reaction (usually speeding it up); it cannot affect the quantities of the products made. See the following pictured baking analogies.

A. If you were baking muffins alone, you could only make so many per hour.

bakers (catalysts)
Ingredients (reactants) muffins/hour (products) Total muffins

B. If you were baking muffins and added a friend to help you, this might increase the rate at
which you made the muffins. It would not increase the number of muffins you would make.

bakers (catalysts)
Ingredients (reactants) muffins/hour (products) Total muffins

more bakers greater rate but same total product

C. Only increasing the amount of baking ingredients (reactants) would increase your number of muffins that you could make.

bakers (catalysts)
Ingredients (reactants) muffins/hour (products) Total muffins

more ingredients eventually produces more products

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