Catalytic metals and their uses

Catalysts are compounds that speed up chemical reactions by lowering the energy barrier between reactants and products. Not only do they save energy, they can also help to produce a pure product instead of a mixture. Many catalysts that chemists use are based on the transition metals. These metals, such as iron, nickel and platinum, are found in the long d-block section in the middle of the periodic table.

Read on to find out how these catalysts are used in a range of industrial processes as well as in the catalytic converters fitted to our cars.