Explore the Catalyst & Activation Energy
See how a catalyst lowers the activation energy barrier and speeds a reaction. Free, no signup, runs in your browser.
- Free to use
- No signup
- Nothing to install
- Runs in your browser
Illustration. Open the tool for the real thing.
See it in action
The Catalyst & Activation Energy with sample data entered and the result showing.
What is the Catalyst & Activation Energy?
See how a catalyst lowers the activation energy barrier and speeds a reaction. It runs in your browser, so a change to a setting or a drag on an object shows up at once.
Catalysts are in car exhausts, fertiliser factories, oil refineries and your own enzymes. They save huge amounts of energy.
3 steps to your result
Open the tool and follow along. Nothing to install.
What you get
A catalyst provides a different route with a lower activation energy.
It speeds up both forward and reverse reactions equally and is not used up.
It does not change the overall energy change (ΔH) of the reaction.
Add a catalyst and read the speed-up.
Raise the temperature.
Make an endothermic reaction.
Used for
Pick one to see how it fits.
Reactions & Kinetics learners
Students learning reaction rates, equilibrium and equations, and teachers who want a visual way to explain what happens to particles.
Try it freeTeachers
For teachers: project the Catalyst & Activation Energy on the board, let students predict the result, then run it together and test this: Raise the temperature. For students: change one thing at a time and write down what changes.
Try it freeHow it compares
A plain look at this tool next to the usual alternative.
| This simulation | Textbook diagram | |
|---|---|---|
| Interactive | Drag, tap and change settings | Fixed picture |
| Install | Nothing to install | Not needed |
| Cost | Free to use | Depends on the book |
Questions people ask
Does a catalyst change the products or the yield at equilibrium?
No. It only makes the reaction reach equilibrium faster. The equilibrium position stays the same.
What is activation energy?
The minimum energy needed for a collision to start a reaction: the height of the energy barrier between reactants and products.
Is the Catalyst & Activation Energy free to use?
Yes. The Catalyst & Activation Energy is free, needs no signup or download and runs in your web browser. It is part of the Reactions & Kinetics group of AZRS simulations.
Does the Catalyst & Activation Energy work on a phone or tablet?
Yes. The Catalyst & Activation Energy takes touch input as well as mouse input, so you can use its 4 adjustable settings with a finger. A larger screen makes the controls and graphs easier to read.
How do I use the Catalyst & Activation Energy?
1. In the Catalyst & Activation Energy, use the controls to change Activation energy Ea, Reaction energy ΔH, Catalyst strength, Temperature. The simulation reacts instantly. 2. In the Catalyst & Activation Energy, press "Run reaction" to start, reset or change what is happening. 3. Start with this experiment: Add a catalyst and read the speed-up. Drag any glowing handle, object or slider with your mouse or finger and the Catalyst & Activation Energy responds in real time. 4. Change one setting at a time and watch which readout moves, then compare it with this idea: A catalyst provides a different route with a lower activation energy.
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See how a catalyst lowers the activation energy barrier and speeds a reaction. Free to use.
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