Get Affordable VMs - excellent virtual server hosting


browse words by letter
a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z
catalysis

more about catalysis

catalysis


  2  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Catalysis  \Ca*tal"y*sis\,  n.;  pl  {Catalyse}.[ML.,  fr  Gr  ? 
  dissolution,  fr  ?  to  destroy,  dissolve;  kata`  down  wholly  + 
  ?  to  loose.] 
  1.  Dissolution;  degeneration;  decay.  [R.] 
 
  Sad  catalysis  and  declension  of  piety.  --Evelyn. 
 
  2.  (Chem.) 
  a  A  process  by  which  reaction  occurs  in  the  presence  of 
  certain  agents  which  were  formerly  believed  to  exert 
  an  influence  by  mere  contact  It  is  now  believed  that 
  such  reactions  are  attended  with  the  formation  of  an 
  intermediate  compound  or  compounds,  so  that  by 
  alternate  composition  and  decomposition  the  agent  is 
  apparenty  left  unchanged;  as  the  catalysis  of  making 
  ether  from  alcohol  by  means  of  sulphuric  acid;  or 
  catalysis  in  the  action  of  soluble  ferments  (as 
  diastase,  or  ptyalin)  on  starch. 
  b  The  catalytic  force. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  catalysis 
  n  :  acceleration  of  a  chemical  reaction  induced  the  presence  of 
  material  that  is  chemically  unchanged  at  the  end  of  the 
  reaction 




more about catalysis