Definition of catalyst

catalystnoun

chất xúc tác

/ˈkætəlɪst//ˈkætəlɪst/

The word "catalyst" originates from Greek, specifically from the word "katalysē", which means "loosening" or "undoing". This term was first used in chemistry by French chemist J.B.C. Novelli in 1835 to describe a substance that accelerates a chemical reaction without being consumed or altered in the process. The concept of a catalyst was, however, first proposed by Italian chemist Stanislao Cannizzaro in 1832. The term "catalyst" has since been widely adopted in various fields, including biochemistry, engineering, and environmental science, to describe any agent that speeds up a particular reaction or process without being permanently changed. In other words, a catalyst is a spark that ignites a reaction, allowing it to proceed at a faster rate or under conditions that wouldn't otherwise be possible.

namespace

a substance that makes a chemical reaction happen faster without being changed itself

chất làm cho phản ứng hóa học xảy ra nhanh hơn mà bản thân nó không bị biến đổi

Example:
  • Chlorine will act as a catalyst.

    Clo sẽ đóng vai trò là chất xúc tác.

a person or thing that causes a change

một người hoặc vật gây ra một sự thay đổi

Example:
  • I see my role as being a catalyst for change.

    Tôi thấy vai trò của mình là chất xúc tác cho sự thay đổi.

  • The riots were later seen as the catalyst for the new political developments.

    Các cuộc bạo loạn sau đó được coi là chất xúc tác cho những diễn biến chính trị mới.

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