catalyze reactions

Meanings

1. 1verbtransitivetechnicalchemistry

   to make chemical reactions happen faster or more easily, without being changed by the reaction.

   Grammar: Takes an object: enzymes catalyze reactions. The verb is 'catalyze' and the object is usually a plural noun like 'reactions'.

   Patterns

   • catalyze reactions
   • catalyze a reaction
   • be catalyzed by something

   Enzymes in saliva catalyze reactions that begin breaking down food.

   Adding a small amount of metal can catalyze reactions that would otherwise be very slow.

   These reactions are catalyzed by acids, so the pH of the mixture matters.

2. 2verbtransitivefigurative

   to cause something such as change or growth to happen sooner or more quickly.

   Grammar: Used figuratively with abstract objects: catalyze change, catalyze growth; not usually with 'reactions' in this sense.

   Patterns

   • catalyze change
   • catalyze growth
   • catalyze debate

   The new law catalyzed change across the whole industry.

   Her research catalyzed debate about how the money should be spent.

Word forms

Common combinations

catalyze a reaction

The platinum surface catalyzes the reaction between hydrogen and oxygen.

catalyze change

A single protest can catalyze change in a whole country.

be catalyzed by an enzyme

This step is catalyzed by an enzyme found in the liver.

catalyze the breakdown of something

These proteins catalyze the breakdown of fats in the blood.

catalyze growth

Cheap loans catalyzed growth in the housing market.

Synonyms and how they differ

speed up

General and everyday; it does not suggest that the thing doing the speeding up stays unchanged, as 'catalyze' does.

promote

Used for encouraging something to develop, often in a neutral or positive way; it lacks the scientific idea of a catalyst.

Opposites

Word family

catalyst noun

a substance that makes a reaction faster, or a person or event that causes change.

catalysis noun

the process of speeding up a reaction with a catalyst.

catalytic adjective

relating to or acting as a catalyst, as in a catalytic converter.

Commonly confused: catalyze reactions or catalyse?

Practice

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