catalysis

American  

[kuh-tal-uh-sis] / kəˈtæl ə sɪs /

noun

plural

catalyses

1. Chemistry. the causing or accelerating of a chemical change by the addition of a catalyst.

2. an action between two or more persons or forces, initiated by an agent that itself remains unaffected by the action.

   social catalyses occasioned by controversial writings.

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catalysis British  

/ kəˈtælɪsɪs /

noun

1. acceleration of a chemical reaction by the action of a catalyst

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Other Word Forms

• anticatalytic adjective
• anticatalytically adverb
• catalytic adjective
• catalytical adjective
• catalytically adverb
• noncatalytic adjective
• noncatalytically adverb
• self-catalysis noun
• semicatalytic adjective

Etymology

Origin of catalysis

First recorded in 1645–55; from New Latin, from Greek katálȳsis “dissolution,” equivalent to katalȳ́ein “to dissolve” ( kata- cata- + lȳ́ein “to loosen”) + -sis -sis

Example Sentences

Similar to traditional palladium-based catalysis, the behavior of photoexcited palladium catalysts is highly dependent on the phosphine ligand attached to the metal.

From Science Daily

The research findings were published online in May 2025 in Applied Catalysis B: Environmental and Energy, a leading journal in the field of energy and environmental catalysis.

From Science Daily

"Researchers have been looking at the ways these atomic arrangements change metallic properties -- a big one is catalysis," Freitas says of the process that drives chemical reactions.

From Science Daily

"If no oxygen bonds to it, leftover carbon will aggregate on the catalyst's nickel surface, covering its active face. This coking deposition causes deactivation. It is extremely common in thermal catalysis for hydrocarbon conversion."

From Science Daily

Surfaces play a key role in numerous chemical reactions, including catalysis and corrosion.

From Science Daily