catalyst
Noun
Meaning
(chemistry) a substance that initiates or accelerates a chemical reaction without itself being affected
something that causes an important event to happen
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Phrases with the word
Examples
the invasion acted as a catalyst to unite the country
A catalyst may participate in multiple chemical transformations.
A catalyst works by providing an alternative reaction pathway to the reaction product.
A catalyst is not destroyed or changed during a reaction, so it can be used again.
A catalyst may and usually will have different catalytic activity for distinct reactions.
According to Leo Baxendale, "In fact, the catalyst for my creation of Bash Street was a Giles cartoon of January 1953: kids pouring out of school, heads flying off and sundry mayhems.