Catalyst

Definition

A catalyst is any substance that increases the rate of a chemical reaction by lowering its activation energy but remains unchanged itself after the reaction has occurred.

Related terms

Enzyme:

A biological catalyst that speeds up chemical reactions in living organisms.

Substrate:

The substance on which an enzyme acts during a chemical reaction.

Inhibitor:

A substance that slows down or prevents a particular chemical reaction or other process, or that reduces the activity of a particular reactant, catalyst, or enzyme.