Catalyst
/ˈkætəlɪst/
Definitions
2 meaningsA substance that speeds up a chemical reaction without being consumed in the process.
/ˈkætəlɪst/
A substance that increases the rate of a chemical reaction without itself undergoing any permanent chemical change.
Platinum is a common catalyst used in many industrial processes.
💡 Simply: It's like a helper that speeds things up, but it doesn't change itself.
👶 For kids: It's something that helps make a reaction happen faster, but doesn't disappear itself.
More Examples
The enzyme acts as a biological catalyst, accelerating the chemical reactions within our bodies.
How It's Used
"The enzyme acts as a biological catalyst."
"A catalyst can speed up the reaction rate in many chemical processes."
Something that causes a significant event or change.
/ˈkætəlɪst/
A person or thing that precipitates an event.
His speech acted as a catalyst for change within the company.
💡 Simply: It's something that makes something big happen.
👶 For kids: It's something that makes something else start.
More Examples
The new technology proved to be a catalyst for economic growth.
How It's Used
"The assassination served as a catalyst for war."
From Greek καταλύτης (katalýtēs), from καταλύειν (katalýein) "to dissolve, break down, destroy". The chemical sense emerged in the 19th century.
The word's original chemical meaning is relatively recent; its figurative use as a trigger for events is a more modern development.
Memory tip
Think of it as a 'helper' in a chemical reaction.