A Step Back

Hi all,

Today we're focusing on the basics, and less on transition metal catalysts specifically. We noticed that this blog is on catalysis, but no specific background is given on catalysts itself. Many of our viewers may understand that catalysts help a reaction get over the "hump" known as activation energy, but they may not really know what  activation energy is, and what causes it to be there. Why is there that hump in that potential energy diagram? What is the meaning of an activated complex versus a inactivated complex? These fundamentals are imperative to understanding the beauty of catalysis. This video, taken from the meteorically rising education phenomenon called Khan Academy, really clears up some important information on catalysis. However, some of the video is too basic, so it is recommended to watch the video at around the 3 minute mark on. The content before that is really on the "easy" side. Nevertheless, here is the video:


First an important Summary, and then there will be some cool discussion. What he says that is most significant is that the reason there is activation energy is that for the bonds of the two reactants to break, the reactants actually have to go to a higher energy state. At this state, the system is called an activated complex. Then the bonds break and they reach their lowest energy state, where they are inactivated. Thus, the moving of the reactants into that higher energy state before actually breaking bonds is the cause of the activation energy, and that is where catalysts come in since they allow us to bypass the activation energy, making the reaction occur quickly. The other information about surface area, concentration etc. is all important, but the emphasis remains on what is the cause of the activation energy.

Now, some may ask why we put this here? As alluded to above, the fundamentals are necessary to appreciate any field. Even in art, for example, unless you understand how difficult it is to even draw a straight line without a ruler,  you won't truly appreciate artists who draw freehand. In another perspective, in catalysis, the activation energy can be considered the basic problem we catalyst makers need to overcome.  Unless we understand the problem, we cannot begin to appreciate the solutions, which in our case are transition metal catalysts.

The next reason we wanted to put this video is that it is a quintessential example of how education using technology can be beneficial. Khan Academy, which has been in the spotlight for quite some time now, has revolutionized how students can learn. Salman Khan, an American, single-handedly uploaded over 3000 videos, which quite aptly describe every topic they cover. The videos range from math to physics, chemistry and biology, epitomizing the power of the internet. This connects to the goal of this blog as well. Metalysis is not just a place for "nerds" to gather, but rather, it is a forum for anyone who needs information on the catalysis that we deal with. This may be someone who really enjoys speaking about transition metal catalysts, but also a could be as student who has a project due the next day and needs some information. We want to help anyone in anyway we can, no matter what the intent our information is being used for (except for extreme cases of course!).