Homogeneous catalysis, Molecular Catalysis

Catalysts are chemicals that lower the activation energy and speed up the reaction rate when applied to chemical reactions. Homogeneous catalysts are ones that reside in the same phase as the reactants (gas or liquid). In most cases, homogeneous catalysis entails the addition of an aqueous phase catalyst to a solution of reactants in water. Acids and bases are frequently used as catalysts in these situations because they can speed up processes by influencing bond polarization. Homogeneous catalysis has the advantage of mixing the catalyst into the reaction mixture, allowing for a high degree of interaction between the catalyst and the reactant molecules.

The molecular and atomic aspects of catalytic activation and reaction processes in metal complex catalysis, and heterogeneous and biological catalysis, are studied in molecular catalysis.

• Acid catalysis
• Organocatalysts
• Immobilized molecular catalysts 
• Organometallic catalysis
• Enzymatic catalysis
• Biocatalysis