The Student Room Group

Examples Homogenous & heterogenous catalysts

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(edited 7 years ago)
Reply 1
Think about an example of a reaction going in the solution and being catalyzed by something that is dissolved as well.
Reply 2
A catalytic converter is also an example of a heterogenous catalyst


Posted from TSR Mobile
An example of homogeneous catalysis is esterification. An alcohol (eg ethanol) reacts with a carboxylic acid (eg propanoic acid) to form an ester (eg. ethyl propanoate) and water. The reaction is conducted under reflux (so temperatures in excess of 200C) and with a concentrated sulphuric acid (H2SO4) catalyst. It's homogeneous because the sulphuric acid catalyst is liquid/aqueous, just like the alcohol and carboxylic acid.

Another example of homogeneous catalysis is in dehydration/elimination reactions. An alcohol (eg. ethanol) is reacted with a concentrated phosphoric acid (H3PO4) or sulphuric acid catalyst to form ethene and water. If a more complicated alcohol such as propan-2-ol is used, multiple isomers of propene will form.

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