A-Level Chemistry

Hi guys, can anyone explain reaction profiles for catalysts for me, specifically the one with two bumps? I know it forms an intermediate and I saw a video where they said the homogenous catalyst has two bumps because of the intermediate, and the heterogenous one does not. However, in a test I did in class from my memory the question had a nickel catalyst (so solid) and hydrogen gas withing the reactants so it would be a heterogenous catalyst and I drew the graph with so bumps, just a smooth curve from reactants to products but I didn't get any marks, and my teacher said to *always* draw two bumps?! - sorry that's a lot of text, I'd really appreciate any clarity. 😊

Original post by 888ella

Hi guys, can anyone explain reaction profiles for catalysts for me, specifically the one with two bumps? I know it forms an intermediate and I saw a video where they said the homogenous catalyst has two bumps because of the intermediate, and the heterogenous one does not. However, in a test I did in class from my memory the question had a nickel catalyst (so solid) and hydrogen gas withing the reactants so it would be a heterogenous catalyst and I drew the graph with so bumps, just a smooth curve from reactants to products but I didn't get any marks, and my teacher said to *always* draw two bumps?! - sorry that's a lot of text, I'd really appreciate any clarity. 😊