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Q.What is the difference between homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysis?

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Step 1. In homogeneous catalysis, the catalyst, the reactants, and the products are all present together in the SAME physical phase — for example, the acid-catalysed hydrolysis of cane sugar or of ethyl acetate, where the mineral acid catalyst is simply dissolved in the same aqueous solution as the reactants and products; or the NO\text{NO}-catalysed oxidation of SO2\text{SO}_2, where catalyst, reactants and product are all gases together.

Step 2. In heterogeneous catalysis, by contrast, the catalyst is present in a DIFFERENT phase from the reactants — most commonly a solid catalyst (often used as a finely divided metal or a metal gauze) acting on gaseous or liquid reactants. Because the reaction occurs specifically at the point of physical contact between reactant and catalyst surface, this is also called contact catalysis.

Step 3. Worked examples of heterogeneous catalysis include the Contact process (SO2+O2→SO3\text{SO}_2 + \text{O}_2 \rightarrow \text{SO}_3 over solid Pt or V2O5\text{V}_2\text{O}_5), the Haber process (N2+H2→NH3\text{N}_2 + \text{H}_2 \rightarrow \text{NH}_3 over solid iron), ammonia oxidation over platinum gauze, ethylene hydrogenation over finely divided nickel, and hydrogen peroxide decomposition over platinum. …

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