Year 9 - Science
Catalysts
Materials
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This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.
Unit Summary
This unit examines the varying properties of elements, the reactivity series, and the role of carbon in metal extraction. It also explores catalysts and the properties of ceramics, polymers, and composites. Emphasis is placed on evaluating risks, using appropriate techniques, and interpreting data.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to describe how catalysts, including enzymes, speed up chemical reactions.
Key Notes
- A catalyst speeds up a chemical reaction without being used up or chemically changed.
- Catalysts are specific to particular reactions; different reactions require different catalysts.
- Enzymes are biological catalysts that speed up reactions in living cells.
Vocabulary To Learn
- catalyst: a chemical that speeds up the rate of a reaction without itself being used up
- enzyme: a biological catalyst that speeds up reactions in living things
- chemical reaction: when atoms are rearranged to make new products and changes can be observed e.g. bubbles of gas forming
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- The catalyst is one of the reactants and gets used up during the reaction.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Explain the scientific idea in this lesson using two key points.
A catalyst speeds up a chemical reaction without being used up or chemically changed. Catalysts are specific to particular reactions; different reactions require different catalysts.
2. Define this scientific word and use it in context. 'catalyst'
a chemical that speeds up the rate of a reaction without itself being used up. Include the word in a full scientific explanation, not as a single label.
3. Correct this common scientific misunderstanding.
Mistake: The catalyst is one of the reactants and gets used up during the reaction. Correction: Emphasise that the chemical reaction will take place without the catalyst but at a very slow rate.
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