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Accelerator vs Catalyst - What's the difference?

accelerator | catalyst |

In chemistry terms the difference between accelerator and catalyst

is that accelerator is a substance which speeds up chemical reactions while catalyst is a substance that increases the rate of a chemical reaction without being consumed in the process.

As nouns the difference between accelerator and catalyst

is that accelerator is one who, or that which, accelerates while catalyst is a substance that increases the rate of a chemical reaction without being consumed in the process.

accelerator

English

Noun

(en noun)
  • One who, or that which, accelerates.
  • A device for causing acceleration.
  • (chemistry) A substance which speeds up chemical reactions.
  • (vehicle) An accelerator pedal.
  • (photography) A chemical that reduces development time.
  • (physics) A device that accelerates charged subatomic particles.
  • (physiology, medical) A muscle or nerve that speed the performance of an action.
  • (computing) accelerator key
  • * 2002 , Davis Howard Chapman, Sams Teach Yourself Visual C++ .NET in 21 Days (page 187)
  • If they had allowed single-character accelerators , Windows wouldn't be able to determine whether the character was input or a shortcut.

    Synonyms

    * (sense) gas pedal, gas * (accelerates subatomic particles) particle accelerator, atom smasher

    Derived terms

    * accelerator pedal, (automotive): a pedal used to control a vehicle's speed * accelerator nerves, (physiology): nerves that speed up a bodily function * accelerator card, (computers): a device that speeds up computer processing * accelerator key, (computers): a key which a user can press to activate a menu or other element * particle accelerator

    catalyst

    English

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (chemistry) A substance that increases the rate of a chemical reaction without being consumed in the process.
  • * 1988 , Biochemistry , 3rd edition, page 177
  • Enzymes, the catalysts of biological systems, are remarkable molecular devices that determine the pattern of chemical transformations.
  • Someone or something that encourages progress or change.
  • Economic development and integration are working as a catalyst for peace.
  • * 1978 , Ernest George Schwiebert, Trout , Volume 2
  • It was a morning baptized by my first cup of coffee, freshly brewed over a gravel-bar fire, while they celebrated with the stronger catalyst of sour-mash whiskey in their fishing-vest cups.
  • * 2004 , Michael B. Oren, Six Days of War: June 1967 and the making of the modern Middle East , page 76
  • Israel's fear for the reactor—rather than Egypt's of it—was the greater catalyst for war.
  • * 2006 , The Freedom Writers, with Erin Gruwell, The Freedom Writers Diary: How a Teacher and 150 Teens Used Writing to Change Themselves and the World Around Them , Diary 74
  • Rosa Parks was a true catalyst' for change and she was only one person. Hearing about Rosa Parks and her protest showed me that there is hope for me and all the students in Ms. G's classes to truly be ' catalysts for change.
  • * '>citation
  • (literature) An inciting incident which that sets the successive conflict into motion.
  • (automotive) A catalytic converter.
  • Synonyms

    * (Someone or something that encourages progress or change) stimulus, straw that stirs the drink

    Antonyms

    * (something that encourages change) inhibitor * (something that enhances or accelerates) dampener

    Derived terms

    * catalyse, catalyze * catalysis * catalytic

    See also

    * enzyme