Chemistry / Unit 9 Chem 1732 short lesson, about 20 seconds
A Catalyst's Alternative, Lower-Energy Mechanism
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The idea
A catalyzed reaction proceeds through a different mechanism than its uncatalyzed form, whose rate-determining step has lower activation energy.
In practice
An uncatalyzed reaction's diagram shows one transition state, while its catalyzed version shows two lower transition states with a valley between.
Where people slip
A catalyzed mechanism is not merely the same pathway sped up — it is often a different route to the same products.
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