What type of catalyst was used in this experiment and how does it work?

  • Thread starter Warpspeed13
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In summary, the conversation discusses the type of nickel catalyst used in an experiment and whether it is a simple nickel or a compound. The question also arises about the use of a metal catalyst and whether it refers to the metal itself or all compounds containing that metal. The conversation also includes a request for a free online article and a clarification on the boiling point of the catalyst used. Ultimately, it is determined that the catalyst used is an ionic salt that dissolves and loses its hydration water before reaching the necessary temperature for the experiment.
  • #1
Warpspeed13
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Can someone explain what type if nickel catalyst they used in this http://www.rsc.org/chemistryworld/News/2010/March/16031001.asp experiment? Is it literally just nickel or is it a nickel compound? When someone says they used an xmetal catalyst is it literally just that metal or are all compounds containing that metal collectively called an xmetal catalyst?
 
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  • #3
Any idea where I could find the article free on the web? It looks like it costs money and it'll take my schools librarian a while to get it.
 
  • #4
If you search on Google/Google Scholar for articles, you can often find author reprints posted on their personal/departmental websites, as was the case http://www.iris.ethz.ch/msrl/publications/files/Adv_Mater_2010.pdf (PDF document).
 
  • #5
Cool thank you very much. I had no idea.
 
  • #6
Probably a stupid question but the catalyst they used was Ni(NO3) hexahydrate, that has a boiling point of 136.7 degrees Celsius shouldn't it have all evaporated and been useless by the time they got the material to 1160 degrees Celsius?
 
  • #7
It is an ionic salt, my bet is that what is happening is on melting it dissolves in its own hydration water and then the hydration water boils out, leaving anhydrous salt behind.
 

1. What is a catalyst?

A catalyst is a substance that speeds up a chemical reaction without being consumed in the process. It lowers the activation energy required for the reaction to occur, allowing it to happen more quickly.

2. How do catalysts work?

Catalysts work by providing an alternative pathway for a chemical reaction to occur. They lower the activation energy by stabilizing the transition state, making it easier for the reactants to form products.

3. Can a catalyst make a reaction occur that would not normally happen?

No, a catalyst cannot make a reaction occur that is thermodynamically unfavorable. It can only speed up a reaction that would eventually occur on its own, but at a much slower rate.

4. Are all catalysts the same?

No, there are many different types of catalysts, including heterogeneous and homogeneous catalysts. They can also vary in their composition and mechanism of action.

5. How do you know if a reaction has been catalyzed?

A reaction that has been catalyzed will occur at a faster rate and may produce a different product than the uncatalyzed reaction. The presence of a catalyst can also be confirmed through spectroscopic or kinetic analysis.

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