Homogeneous Catalysis
Catalysis in which the catalyst is in the same phase as the reactants.
Unit
Dimensionless
In depth
Because every catalyst molecule is accessible, homogeneous catalysts are highly active and their mechanisms are relatively easy to study by spectroscopy. Their drawback is separation: recovering a dissolved catalyst from the product mixture is often difficult and expensive.
Examples in the real world
H⁺ catalysing ester hydrolysis; NO catalysing SO₂ oxidation in the lead chamber process; chlorine radicals destroying ozone.