Makes a chemical reaction happen faster without being changed by the process, or causes something to happen.
From Greek 'katalysis' (dissolution), from 'kata-' (down) + 'lysis' (loosening). The term was coined in chemistry in the 1800s to describe substances that speed up reactions.
Catalysts are like the ultimate team players in chemistry—they make reactions happen faster but come out completely unchanged, so they can keep doing it over and over again. This is why enzymes in your body can catalyze millions of reactions without getting worn out.
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