The rates at which different chemical reactions proceed can vary depending on many factors, including temperature and concentration. Depending on the process, chemists may want to slow down the rate of a reaction or speed it up. In this video, you will learn about catalysts and how they work.

What is a catalyst? How do catalysts work? What role does a catalyst play in the “elephant’s toothpaste” reaction? Can you think of any other examples in which catalysts can be useful?

Rainbow Elephant’s toothpaste. Imagination Station. Accessed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ei5kGOW1wT8 on December 14, 2016.