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Related Concept Videos

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...
Complexation Equilibria: Overview01:23

Complexation Equilibria: Overview

Complexation reactions take place when dative or coordinate covalent bonds form between metal ions and ligands. The compounds formed in these reactions are called coordination compounds. The number of bonds formed between the metal ion and the ligands is called its coordination number. Generally, most metal ions in an aqueous solution are solvated by water molecules and thus exist as aqua complexes.
The equilibrium constant of the complexation reaction is represented as the formation constant...
Complexation Equilibria: Factors Influencing Stability of Complexes01:09

Complexation Equilibria: Factors Influencing Stability of Complexes

In complexation reactions, metal cations are the electron pair acceptors, and the ligands are the electron pair donors. The stability of the metal complexes depends primarily on the complexing ability of the central metal ion and the nature of the ligands. Generally, the complexing ability of the metal ion depends on the size and charge of the ion. As the metal ion size increases, the stability of the metal complexes decreases, provided that the valency of the metal ion and the ligands remain...
Colloidal precipitates01:09

Colloidal precipitates

The high insolubility of some precipitates can result in an unfavorable relative supersaturation. This can lead to colloidal particles with a large surface-to-mass ratio, where adsorption is promoted. For instance, in the precipitation of silver chloride, silver ions are adsorbed on the surface of the colloidal particles, forming a primary layer. This layer attracts ions of opposite charge (such as nitrate ions), forming a diffuse secondary layer of adsorbed ions. This electric double layer...
Dynamic Equilibrium02:20

Dynamic Equilibrium

A reversible chemical reaction represents a chemical process that proceeds in both forward (left to right) and reverse (right to left) directions. When the rates of the forward and reverse reactions are equal, the concentrations of the reactant and product species remain constant over time and the system is at equilibrium. A special double arrow is used to emphasize the reversible nature of the reaction. The relative concentrations of reactants and products in equilibrium systems vary greatly;...
Complexation Equilibria: The Chelate Effect01:19

Complexation Equilibria: The Chelate Effect

In complexation reactions, metal atoms or cations interact with ligands to form donor-acceptor adducts called metal complexes. Ligands that bind through one donor site are monodentate, ligands with two donor sites are bidentate, and those with more than two donor sites are polydentate ligands. For example, ethylene diamine is a bidentate ligand that binds through two nitrogen donor atoms, forming a five-membered ring. EDTA is a polydentate ligand that binds through four oxygen and two nitrogen...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 10, 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

Dynamic and Catalytic Multiphase Coacervates.

Richard Booth1, Jiaqi Pei1, Jacob Shaffer1

  • 1Department of Chemistry, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, United States.

Biomacromolecules
|July 9, 2026
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Artificial multiphase coacervate systems offer new ways to control chemical reactions. These dynamic systems enable spatial control over catalysis, enhancing reaction rates and providing insights into early metabolism.

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Last Updated: Jul 10, 2026

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

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Published on: April 12, 2019

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High-pressure Sapphire Cell for Phase Equilibria Measurements of CO2/Organic/Water Systems

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09:34

Synthesis of Information-bearing Peptoids and their Sequence-directed Dynamic Covalent Self-assembly

Published on: February 6, 2020

Area of Science:

  • Synthetic biology
  • Biochemistry
  • Materials science

Background:

  • Multiphase coacervate systems are crucial for cellular functions and understanding the origins of metabolism.
  • Controlling catalytic reactions within these systems remains a challenge.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To develop a pH-responsive artificial multiphase system for controlled catalysis.
  • To explore the advantages of phase hierarchy in designing catalytic systems.

Main Methods:

  • Creation of a three-phase coacervate droplet system with a catalytically active inner phase.
  • Investigation of pH-induced phase reorganization and its effect on reaction dynamics.
  • Analysis of spatial decoupling of catalyst, substrate, and product.

Main Results:

  • The multiphase system demonstrated pH-dependent reorganization, enabling control over chemical reactions.
  • The polyhistidine-dense coacervate phase provided inherent nonenzymatic catalytic activity and stability.
  • Spatial decoupling within the phase hierarchy significantly enhanced reaction rates.
  • Phase reorganization itself was shown to be catalytically productive.

Conclusions:

  • Phase hierarchy in coacervate systems offers unique design opportunities for catalysis, inaccessible in single-phase systems.
  • This dynamic system allows for tuning reactivity through controlled reorganization.
  • The findings advance the understanding of synthetic biological systems and primitive metabolism.