Short answers, pulled from the story.
Elizabeth Fulhame invented the concept of catalysis in 1794. Her work on oxidation-reduction reactions revealed that certain substances could accelerate chemical changes without being consumed. Jöns Jakob Berzelius later popularized the word catalysis in 1835.
Estimates suggest that 90% of all commercially produced chemical products involve catalysts at some stage of their manufacture. In 2005, catalytic processes generated approximately 900 billion dollars in products worldwide. This figure underscores the economic indispensability of catalytic processes.
The Haber process uses iron-based catalysts to break the incredibly strong triple bond of nitrogen gas to produce ammonia. The catalyst is not pure iron but a sophisticated mixture of iron, potassium, calcium, and aluminum oxides. This mixture is optimized to maximize the number of active sites available for nitrogen and hydrogen molecules.
Enzymes are protein-based catalysts that drive the metabolism and catabolism of all living organisms. They can accelerate reactions by factors of millions and often function under mild conditions of temperature and pH. The enzyme catalase decomposes hydrogen peroxide into water and oxygen with incredible speed to protect cells from toxic buildup.
Catalytic converters in automobiles use platinum and rhodium to break down harmful exhaust gases like carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxides. These metals convert toxic gases into less toxic substances such as carbon dioxide and nitrogen. This technology relies on the principle of lowering activation energy to convert toxic gases into desirable products.
Benjamin List and David W.C. MacMillan won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2021 for organocatalysis. This discipline utilizes small organic molecules without metals to achieve asymmetric synthesis. Their work allows for the creation of chiral molecules essential for pharmaceuticals.