New
New
Year 9
Catalysts
I can describe how catalysts, including enzymes, speed up chemical reactions.
New
New
Year 9
Catalysts
I can describe how catalysts, including enzymes, speed up chemical reactions.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- A catalyst speeds up a chemical reaction without being used up or chemically changed.
- Catalysts are specific to particular reactions; different reactions require different catalysts.
- Enzymes are biological catalysts that speed up reactions in living cells.
Common misconception
The catalyst is one of the reactants and gets used up during the reaction.
Emphasise that the chemical reaction will take place without the catalyst but at a very slow rate.
Keywords
Catalyst - a chemical that speeds up the rate of a reaction without itself being used up
Enzyme - a biological catalyst that speeds up reactions in living things
Chemical reaction - when atoms are rearranged to make new products and changes can be observed e.g. bubbles of gas forming
Provide students with hands-on practical experience of the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide using a catalyst or an enzyme. Ask them to predict what will happen when the catalyst/enzyme is added.
Teacher tip
Licence
This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).
Video
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Starter quiz
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6 Questions
Q1.
When magnesium reacts with acid, hydrogen gas is produced which we can collect in a test tube. To test if it is hydrogen, we hold a burning splint to the test tube and hear a .
Correct Answer: squeaky pop, squeaky pop sound, squeaky popping sound
squeaky pop, squeaky pop sound, squeaky popping sound
Q2.
Some metals, like gold and platinum, are found in their native state in nature, and nothing much happens when other chemicals are added. We call these metals very .
Correct Answer: unreactive
unreactive
Q3.
The higher the position of a metal in the reactivity series, the more it is likely to react.
Correct Answer: vigorously
vigorously
Q4.
The thermite reaction needs a bit of input of energy before it starts, but then releases energy and is so that it can weld railway lines.
Correct Answer: exothermic
exothermic
Q5.
Some reactions are slow, whereas other reactions are much faster. Hydrogen and oxygen do not react with each other spontaneously. What would it need to make them react?
a higher concentration of both gases
Correct answer: energy, for example heat or a flame
energy, for example heat or a flame
mixing the gases together
putting the gases in water
Q6.
Metal A is more reactive than metal B. What type of reaction would take place if metal A is added to a solution of a salt of metal B?
a combustion reaction
a decomposition reaction
Correct answer: a displacement reaction
a displacement reaction
a neutralisation reaction
an oxidation reaction
Exit quiz
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6 Questions
Q1.
Some substances simply do not react with each other, e.g. platinum and water. In others you can see a spontaneous reaction but it is very slow: e.g. of hydrogen peroxide to water and oxygen.
Correct Answer: decomposition, decomposition reaction, the decomposition, the decomposition reaction
decomposition, decomposition reaction, the decomposition, the decomposition reaction
Q2.
Metals and metal salts are good catalysts. This is not just because there are so many metals. They have specific characteristics, or , that make them so suitable as catalysts.
Correct Answer: properties
properties
Q3.
A catalytic converter efficiently converts unwanted combustion products (e.g. CO, C, NOx) into CO$$_2$$ and N$$_2$$. Why are these two gases preferred over the other substances?
Correct answer: CO, C and NOx are climate pollutants.
CO, C and NOx are climate pollutants.
Correct answer: CO, C and NOx are toxic to the environment, including humans.
CO, C and NOx are toxic to the environment, including humans.
CO$$_2$$ is harmless
Correct answer: N$$_2$$ came from the air anyway.
N$$_2$$ came from the air anyway.
Q4.
Why do living cells bother changing hydrogen peroxide to water and oxygen, and why do they use a catalyst?
Correct answer: H$$_2$$O$$_2$$ is harmful (and H$$_2$$O and O$$_2$$ are not).
H$$_2$$O$$_2$$ is harmful (and H$$_2$$O and O$$_2$$ are not).
Living cells can use the catalyst for other reactions too.
Correct answer: The spontaneous reaction is far too slow.
The spontaneous reaction is far too slow.
Q5.
Match the following key terms to their definition.
Correct Answer:catalyst,a chemical that speeds up rate of a reaction without being used up
catalyst -
a chemical that speeds up rate of a reaction without being used up
Correct Answer:chemical reaction,when atoms are rearranged, and changes can be observed e.g. bubbles
chemical reaction -
when atoms are rearranged, and changes can be observed e.g. bubbles
Correct Answer:decomposition reaction,type of reaction when a reactant breaks down into two or more products
decomposition reaction -
type of reaction when a reactant breaks down into two or more products
Correct Answer:enzyme,a biological catalyst that speeds up reactions in living things
enzyme -
a biological catalyst that speeds up reactions in living things
Q6.
Why is the lock and key model a good model of an enzyme?
Correct answer: Only the correctly shaped key will open the lock.
Only the correctly shaped key will open the lock.
Correct answer: Only the correctly shaped substrate will fit the active site.
Only the correctly shaped substrate will fit the active site.
Correct answer: The keyhole represents the active site.
The keyhole represents the active site.
Correct answer: The lock can be used many times and so can the enzyme.
The lock can be used many times and so can the enzyme.
Correct answer: The lock represents the enzyme; the key represents the substrate.
The lock represents the enzyme; the key represents the substrate.