Catalysis: energy is the measure of all things

Abstract

Is there any place in the extremely well-established field of catalytic kinetics for new interpretations or novel models that can change the basic doctrines and viewpoints of catalytic cycles? Since the first introduction of the energy span model, we started to believe that indeed there is. Herein we will evaluate from mathematical, physical and applied perspectives the advantages in using the energy representation for the depiction of the kinetics of catalysis, compared to the usual rate constant representation. We will discuss many concepts such as the energy span, the determining states, the determining zone, graph theory, affinity, degrees of rate control, robustness and volcano plots. Special emphasis will be put on the effect of reactants’ and products’ concentrations, and how to easily and accurately understand their influence on the kinetics. Ultimately, we will try to explore if energy truly is the measure of all things.