What is a characteristic feature of catalysts?

A defining characteristic of catalysts is their ability to selectively speed up chemical reactions without being consumed in the process. This means that while they lower the activation energy required for a reaction to occur, they remain unchanged after the reaction has taken place and can be reused multiple times. This property is crucial because it allows catalysts to facilitate reactions efficiently, often at much lower energy requirements, making them essential in various biological and industrial processes.

In addition, catalysts do not need to be present in large quantities relative to the reactants. In fact, only a small amount of catalyst is necessary to promote the reaction because it can participate in multiple cycles of the reaction. Similarly, they do not provide energy to the reactions; rather, they help the reactions occur more easily by altering the reaction pathway. Thus, the nature of catalysts is fundamentally about their ability to enhance reaction rates while remaining chemically intact.