Chemistry
How Surface Area Affects the Rate of Heterogeneous Catalytic Reactions
Quick fact
A single gram of a porous catalyst like activated carbon can have a surface area larger than a football field — over 1,000 square meters!
Why this is interesting
Imagine a crowded dance floor: more floor space means more dancers can move at once. Similarly, a catalyst with more surface area can host more reactions simultaneously. But why is the surface so special?