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Chemistry · Glossary

What is Sabatier principle, volcano plot?

Also known as: Sabatier principle · volcano plot

Definition 16.17 University Chemistry — Year 3 · Chapter 16 — Surfaces, Adsorption and Heterogeneous Catalysis

The Sabatier principle states that the best catalyst binds the reactants neither too weakly (they do not adsorb or activate) nor too strongly (the products do not leave and block the sites). A volcano plot of the activity of a series of catalysts against a binding energy has a maximum at intermediate binding.

A volcano plot (qualitative): the activity of a series of catalysts against the strength with which they bind a key intermediate.
A volcano plot (qualitative): the activity of a series of catalysts against the strength with which they bind a key intermediate.
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