Contact catalysis, first observation

The first observations of an increase of the reactivity between gases in the presence of a metal were made, almost one hundred years ago, by chemists like Davy or Thenard. This pioneer work led Berzelius and Mitscherlich to define the concept of decomposition of species by contact under a catalytic force . Since then much work has been done in order to understand the behavior of these small transition metal clusters which are able to promote some chemical reactions. In fact, catalysis has become a field of enormous economical interest. It spans a wide variety of areas from oil reforming to the preparation of synthetic fibers or fertilizers. Theoretical research as well as chemical engineering are therefore deeply involved and many current studies deal with the knowledge of such materials. 

The term catalysis originates from the Greek word Karakiaia, which means to dissolve, to loosen, to unfix. Berzelius (1779-1848) introduced the term in 1836. Other pioneers of the concept of catalysis were Dobereiner (1780-1849), Mitscher-lich (1794—1863), and Liebig (1803-1873). These first catalyst researchers observed in many cases that two substances that do not show a tendency for reaction do in fact react quickly in contact with a third substance that is not consumed in the reaction. Wilhelm Ostwald (see box) made a very significant contribution to the modern physicochemical understanding of catalysis. 

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