Chemistry
Catalysis by Transition Metals in Industrial Reactions
Quick fact
The iron catalyst used in the Haber-Bosch process for ammonia synthesis is responsible for producing over 150 million tons of nitrogen fertilizer annually, sustaining about half of the world's population.
Why this is interesting
Many everyday products, from plastic bottles to medicines, rely on a hidden helper: transition metal catalysts. How do these metals speed up reactions without being consumed?