What is a cocatalyst in catalysis?

In cooperative catalysis, chemical species that improve catalytic activity are called cocatalysts or promoters . In tandem catalysis two or more different catalysts are coupled in a one-pot reaction. In autocatalysis, the catalyst is a product of the overall reaction, in contrast to all other types of catalysis considered in this article.

What is a catalyst & how does it work?

A catalyst is some material that speeds up chemical reactions. With a helping hand from a catalyst, molecules that might take years to interact can now do so in seconds. Factories rely on catalysts to make everything from plastic to drugs. Catalysts help process petroleum and coal into liquid fuels. They’re key players in clean-energy technologies.

What is the difference between a catalyst and an uncatalyzed reaction?

A catalyst is not consumed by the reaction and it may participate in multiple reactions at a time. The only difference between a catalyzed reaction and an uncatalyzed reaction is that the activation energy is different. There is no effect on the energy of the reactants or the products. The ΔH for the reactions is the same.

Can a catalyst be consumed before a reaction is completed?

Note that the catalyst may be consumed during one of the intermediate steps, but it will be created again before the reaction is completed. Usually when someone refers to a catalyst, they mean a positive catalyst, which is a catalyst that speeds up the rate of a chemical reaction by lowering its activation energy.