catalysis, contact action
(noun) acceleration of a chemical reaction induced the presence of material that is chemically unchanged at the end of the reaction; “of the top 50 commodity chemicals, 30 are created directly by catalysis and another 6 are made from raw materials that are catalytically produced”
Source: WordNet® 3.1
catalysis (countable and uncountable, plural catalyses)
(chemistry) The increase of the rate of a chemical reaction, induced by a catalyst.
Source: Wiktionary
Ca*tal"y*sis, n.; pl. Catalyse. Etym: [ML., fr. Gr.
1. Dissolution; degeneration; decay. [R.] Sad catalysis and declension of piety. Evelyn.
2. (Chem.) (a) A process by which reaction occurs in the presence of certain agents which were formerly believed to exert an influence by mere contact. It is now believed that such reactions are attended with the formation of an intermediate compound or compounds, so that by alternate composition and decomposition the agent is apparenty left unchanged; as, the catalysis of making ether from alcohol by means of sulphuric acid; or catalysis in the action of soluble ferments (as diastase, or ptyalin) on starch. (b) The catalytic force.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition
19 May 2025
(adjective) of or made from or using substances produced by or used in reactions involving atomic or molecular changes; “chemical fertilizer”
Coffee dates back to the 9th century. Goat herders in Ethiopia noticed their goats seem to be “dancing” after eating berries from a particular shrub. They reported it to the local monastery, and a monk made a drink out of it. The monk found out he felt energized and kept him awake at night. That’s how the first coffee drink was born.
