Promoter or Accelerators

Promoter or Accelerators are those substances used to increase the activity of catalysts positively. These substances are also known as catalytic promoters. These substances or compounds are not truly catalysts, but when mixed in small quantities during the reaction and the catalyst, they enhance their efficiency. They differ from catalysts as a catalyst is a substance that alters the rate of a chemical reaction without being consumed in it. Catalysts also lower the activation energy by changing the reaction mechanism. 

A promoter is an activator or accelerator of catalysis. It is a material or substance that enhances catalysts’ activity without actually having any catalytic value. During the reaction, a minimal quantity of promoters is sufficient to increase the overall catalytic activity to a large extent. 

Promoters behave as motivational speakers that enhance the efficiency of catalyst activity during a reaction. In simple words, promoters assist in improving the overall chemical reaction. 

Meaning of Promoters or Accelerators:

The meaning of promoters or accelerators is straightforward, as they work in such a way that significantly increases the activity of catalysts during the reaction. So, they are referred to as activators or improving chemicals. They are something that pushes the catalyst or motivates the catalysts to perform better in a chemical reaction. Without the presence of catalysts, they are less functional. Promoters alone can never be effective in reaction. 

The meaning of Promoters shares the homology with the accelerators that are present in vehicles. The accelerators in vehicles increase the average speed concerning time, and without accelerators, it is no longer possible to enhance the speed of vehicles. Similarly, promoters define the activity of catalysts, and without promoters, catalysts are not much more effective. Promoters are any substances that promote or accelerate a particular process. 

Catalysts and promoters both are different concerning structure, function, and property. It is important to remember that catalysts work alone, but promoters can not. When catalysts work alone in a chemical reaction, there must be an impact on their efficiency; still, the reaction should complete successfully. 

Examples of Promoters:

Promoters are widely used in most reactions. Some of the examples of promoters are given below:

In Haber-Bosch Reaction: 

It is a chemical reaction in which the chemical compound Ammonia is synthesised by using Nitrogen and Hydrogen gas.

This reaction carries at temperatures ranging from 400℃- to 450℃. Haber’s process uses catalysts made up of iron. In this process, Molybdenum (Mo) acts as a promoter, which increases the activity of a catalyst made up of Iron. The mixture of Potassium and Aluminium Oxides also acts as promoters in this process. Fritz Haber discovered this reaction in 1910. 

                                                      N2 (g) + 2H2 (g) 2NH3

Manufacture of Methyl Alcohol:

In this reaction, Methyl alcohol is synthesised by using Carbon Monoxide (CO) and Hydrogen gas (H2). The catalyst used in this reaction is Zinc Oxide (ZnO). Chromic Oxide (Cr2O3) acts as a promoter, which increases the effectiveness of a catalyst ZnO. 

The Function of Promoters:

Promoter has only one specific function during any chemical reaction. The significant function of a promoter is to improve the performance of a given catalyst in a chemical reaction. This function of promoters enhances the catalysts’ activity, which affects the overall reaction positively. Note that only this promoter function makes them more useful and essential during a given chemical reaction. 

On its own, a promoter has no or little catalytic effect. Some promoters interact with active sites of catalysts and finally alter their chemical effect on the catalysed reaction to a large extent. 

Conclusion:

Promoters are those substances that function along with catalysts to increase their activity in a chemical reaction. 

• They are any component added to a catalyst to enhance its activity or selectivity. 
• They do not have their own catalytic effect.
• They are less functional without being used with catalysts. 
• Promoters are widely used in most reactions that are commercially processed.