Understanding Exothermic Reaction with a Catalyst - Tim's Questions

[luthier]

I don't really understand about catalysts...
I am thinking about an exothermic reaction in the presance of a catalyst.
My understanding was that the catalyst lowers the energy threshold for the reactants to
commence reacting. ( I think that was gotten from shell theory and bonding energys )

My question is... does the catalyst effect the tempature durring the reaction ?
Does the reaction happen at a lower tempature in the presance of a catalyst ?

I am thinking of examples like the catalytic heaters which use propane ... Is that
reaction cooler than an open and maximum tempature burning flame ?

If it IS lower temp... then the question becomes - where did the missing energy go ?

If it is not a lower temp- but the same- then what function is the catalyst serveing ?

Any ideas ?
Tim

 

[sjb-2812]

I don't really understand about catalysts...
I am thinking about an exothermic reaction in the presance of a catalyst.
My understanding was that the catalyst lowers the energy threshold for the reactants to
commence reacting. ( I think that was gotten from shell theory and bonding energys )

My question is... does the catalyst effect the tempature durring the reaction ?
Does the reaction happen at a lower tempature in the presance of a catalyst ?

I am thinking of examples like the catalytic heaters which use propane ... Is that
reaction cooler than an open and maximum tempature burning flame ?

If it IS lower temp... then the question becomes - where did the missing energy go ?

If it is not a lower temp- but the same- then what function is the catalyst serveing ?

Any ideas ?
Tim

It's possible that the temperature is reduced, look into strained lock and key ideas, such as http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enzyme#.22Lock_and_key.22_model ?