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Related Concept Videos

Alcohols from Carbonyl Compounds: Reduction02:23

Alcohols from Carbonyl Compounds: Reduction

Reduction is a simple strategy to convert a carbonyl group to a hydroxyl group. The three major pathways to reduce carbonyls to alcohols are catalytic hydrogenation, hydride reduction, and borane reduction.
Catalytic hydrogenation is similar to the reduction of an alkene or alkyne by adding H2 across the pi bond in the presence of transition metal catalysts like Raney Ni, Pd–C, Pt, or Ru. Aldehydes and ketones can be reduced by this method, often under mild to moderate heat (25–100°C) and...
Heterogeneous Catalysis01:22

Heterogeneous Catalysis

Heterogeneous catalysis involves a catalyst in a different phase from the reactants. It is a process where the catalyst and the reactants are in distinct phases, typically solid and gas or liquid.Most heterogeneous catalysts are metals, metal oxides, or acids. The list includes transition metals like iron (Fe), cobalt (Co), nickel (Ni), palladium (Pd), platinum (Pt), chromium (Cr), manganese (Mn), tungsten (W), silver (Ag), and copper (Cu). These metals possess partially vacant d orbitals that...
Diels–Alder vs Retro-Diels–Alder Reaction: Thermodynamic Factors01:31

Diels–Alder vs Retro-Diels–Alder Reaction: Thermodynamic Factors

The Diels–Alder reaction is thermally reversible, meaning that the reaction reverts to the starting diene and dienophile under suitable temperatures. The forward reaction gives a cyclohexene derivative and is favored at low to medium temperatures. The reverse process, also called retro-Diels–Alder reaction, is a ring-opening process favored at high temperatures.
Conformations of Ethane and Propane02:18

Conformations of Ethane and Propane

In an organic molecule, free rotation about the carbon-carbon single bond results in energetically different conformers of the molecule. Due to this rotation, called the internal rotation, ethane has two major conformations — staggered and eclipsed.
Staggered conformation is a low energy and more stable conformation with the C-H bonds on the front carbon placed at 60°dihedral angles relative to the C-H bonds on the back carbon, leading to a reduced torsional strain. In staggered ethane, the...
Ethers from Alcohols: Alcohol Dehydration and Williamson Ether Synthesis02:29

Ethers from Alcohols: Alcohol Dehydration and Williamson Ether Synthesis

Overview
Ethers can be prepared from organic compounds by various methods. Some of them are discussed below,
Preparation of Ethers by Alcohol Dehydration
In this method, in the presence of protic acids, alcohol dehydrates to produce alkenes and ethers under different conditions. For example, in the presence of sulphuric acid, dehydration of ethanol at 413 K yields ethoxyethane, whereas it yields ethene at 443 K.
Reduction of Alkenes: Catalytic Hydrogenation02:13

Reduction of Alkenes: Catalytic Hydrogenation

Alkenes undergo reduction by the addition of molecular hydrogen to give alkanes. Because the process generally occurs in the presence of a transition-metal catalyst, the reaction is called catalytic hydrogenation.
Metals like palladium, platinum, and nickel are commonly used in their solid forms — fine powder on an inert surface. As these catalysts remain insoluble in the reaction mixture, they are referred to as heterogeneous catalysts.
The hydrogenation process takes place on the surface of...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 25, 2026

Multiscale Sampling of a Heterogeneous Water/Metal Catalyst Interface using Density Functional Theory and Force-Field Molecular Dynamics
10:52

Multiscale Sampling of a Heterogeneous Water/Metal Catalyst Interface using Density Functional Theory and Force-Field Molecular Dynamics

Published on: April 12, 2019

Ethanol reforming on Co(0001) surfaces: a density functional theory study.

Yuguang Ma1, Liliana Hernández, Carlos Guadarrama-Pérez

  • 1Department of Chemical Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843, USA.

The Journal of Physical Chemistry. A
|January 19, 2012
PubMed
Summary

This study reveals that ethanol steam reforming on cobalt surfaces primarily involves dehydrogenation steps. Ethoxy dehydrogenation is the rate-determining step, crucial for understanding this catalytic reaction.

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Synthesis and Performance Characterizations of Transition Metal Single Atom Catalyst for Electrochemical CO2 Reduction
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Synthesis and Performance Characterizations of Transition Metal Single Atom Catalyst for Electrochemical CO2 Reduction

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In situ FTIR Spectroscopy as a Tool for Investigation of Gas/Solid Interaction: Water-Enhanced CO2 Adsorption in UiO-66 Metal-Organic Framework
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In situ FTIR Spectroscopy as a Tool for Investigation of Gas/Solid Interaction: Water-Enhanced CO2 Adsorption in UiO-66 Metal-Organic Framework

Published on: February 1, 2020

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Last Updated: May 25, 2026

Multiscale Sampling of a Heterogeneous Water/Metal Catalyst Interface using Density Functional Theory and Force-Field Molecular Dynamics
10:52

Multiscale Sampling of a Heterogeneous Water/Metal Catalyst Interface using Density Functional Theory and Force-Field Molecular Dynamics

Published on: April 12, 2019

Synthesis and Performance Characterizations of Transition Metal Single Atom Catalyst for Electrochemical CO2 Reduction
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Synthesis and Performance Characterizations of Transition Metal Single Atom Catalyst for Electrochemical CO2 Reduction

Published on: April 10, 2018

In situ FTIR Spectroscopy as a Tool for Investigation of Gas/Solid Interaction: Water-Enhanced CO2 Adsorption in UiO-66 Metal-Organic Framework
11:38

In situ FTIR Spectroscopy as a Tool for Investigation of Gas/Solid Interaction: Water-Enhanced CO2 Adsorption in UiO-66 Metal-Organic Framework

Published on: February 1, 2020

Area of Science:

  • Computational Chemistry
  • Surface Science
  • Catalysis

Background:

  • Ethanol steam reforming is a key process for hydrogen production.
  • Understanding reaction mechanisms on catalyst surfaces is vital for process optimization.
  • Cobalt-based catalysts are promising for steam reforming applications.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To computationally investigate the reaction mechanism of ethanol steam reforming on Co(0001) surfaces.
  • To identify adsorption properties of reactants, intermediates, and products.
  • To analyze the reaction pathway and determine the rate-determining step.

Main Methods:

  • Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations were employed.
  • Adsorption energies of key species were systematically evaluated.
  • Reaction pathways and transition states were analyzed to map the mechanism.

Main Results:

  • The primary reaction pathway involves sequential dehydrogenation steps of ethanol, ethoxy, methanol, methoxy, and formic acid on Co(0001).
  • The dehydrogenation of ethoxy was identified as the highest energy barrier step, thus rate-determining.
  • The conversion of formaldehyde to formic acid and hydrogen may involve multiple elementary steps.

Conclusions:

  • The proposed dehydrogenation-dominated mechanism is feasible on Co(0001) surfaces.
  • Optimizing the ethoxy dehydrogenation step is critical for enhancing ethanol steam reforming efficiency.
  • Computational insights provide a foundation for designing improved cobalt catalysts.