Catalysis of chemical processes: Particular teaching aspects

Abstract

The paper is devoted to two main issues of catalysis from the viewpoint of teaching and learning activities. The first part deals with positive catalysis which treats the general features of catalytic processes and textbook imperfections. The second part focuses on decelerating or stopping-down chemical processes. It is shown that contrary to the “positive” catalysis, i.e. enhancement of the rate of chemical reactions, which is a regular part of chemical education at secondary/high schools and universities, the inhibition of the chemical reactions is frequently missing in educational curricula. The importance of inhibition is explained, its mechanism presented and examples offered. [African Journal of Chemical Education—AJCE 5(2), July 2015]