Catalyst

A catalyst (Greek: καταλύτης, catalyt?s) is a substance that accelerates the rate (speed) of a chemical reaction without itself being transformed or consumed by the reaction (see also catalysis). Chemical catalysts, the focus of this article, participate in reactions but are neither chemical reactants nor chemical products. More generally, one may sometimes call anything which accelerates a reaction without itself being consumed or transformed a catalyst (for example, a "catalyst for political change").

References

• "Recognizing the Best in Innovation: Breakthrough Catalyst". R&D Magazine, September 2005, pg 20.