catalytic

Everyday

1. Speeding up a chemical reaction without being used up; working as a catalyst. tree →
2. Causing important changes to happen. tree →

In the lessons

In science lessons it describes catalysts that make reactions faster, like enzymes in the body. In everyday life, cars have a "catalytic converter" that turns harmful exhaust gases into less harmful ones. Phrases: "catalytic converter", "catalytic role".

Examples

• A catalytic converter cleans a car's exhaust gases. tree →
• Enzymes are catalytic and speed up digestion. tree →
• Thieves sometimes steal catalytic converters from cars. tree →
• The teacher showed a catalytic reaction that made foam. tree →
• Her speech played a catalytic role in changing the rules. tree →

Note

Adjective of "catalyst". Pronounced "kat-a-LIT-ik". A catalyst is not used up in the reaction, so it can work again and again.