BV MEANS OF CATALYSTS. OREIGIITOX. 29 



discussed at length bv Fajans^ In order to answer this ques- 

 tion the exact definition of catalysis and catalyst must be 

 considered. Ostwald, who has done so much work in this 

 region, has defijied^ catalysis as follows: "Katalyse ist die 

 Beschleunigung eines langsam yerlaufenden chemischen Vor- 

 gangs durch die Gegenwart eines fremden Stoffes." This defini- 

 tion is independent of what the cause of what catalysis may be. 

 A catalyst he defines^ as "jeden Stoif, der ohne im Endproducte 

 einer chemischen Eeaktion zu erseheinen. ihre Geschwindigkeit 

 verandert." This definition has been broadened by Bredig* : 

 "Die Katalysatoren sind Stoffe, welche die Geschwindis'keit 

 einer Eeaktion yeranderu, ohne stets eine stochiometrische 

 aquiyalent-e Beziehung der eyentuell umgewandelten Menge des 

 sogenannten Katalysators zu der Meuge der anderen umge- 

 wandelten Substanzen, der sog. Substrate, besteht.''" This last 

 definition, which includes the fonner, is accej^ted to-day by 

 most inyestigators in the field of catalysis. 



There has been Siome doubt expressed as to whether the 

 decomposition of camphor-carboxylic acid as carried out by 

 Fajans is a catalytic process. Objections haye been made to 

 the use of equivalent quantities of acid and base on the one 

 hand, and to the mechanism of the reaction on the other. 

 These criticisms haye been fully answered by Fajans'\ 



In our reaction it has been found that the decomposition 

 of bromcamphor-carboxylic acid is greatly accelerated by the 

 presence of very small quantities of base. It has further been 

 shown^, that the base used to catalyse the decomposition of the 

 acid is in the same condition and i^resent in the same amount 

 at the end of the reaction as at the beginning; and also that 

 it is capable of decomposing a new f[uantity of acid ivith the 

 same velocity as at first. 



1. Fajans, K. : loc. cit. I>. 59-65. 



2. Ostwald, W.: Zeit. f. phys. Chemie, 15, 705, (1894); Lehrb. d. 

 aUgem. Chemie, 2. Aufl. (1), 2. 515, (1893). 



3. Ostwald, W.: Zeit. f. Elektrochem, 7, 998. (1901). 



4. Bredig-, G. : ibid., 9, 735, (1903). 



5. Fajans, K. : loc. cit. 



6. Creighton, H. J. M.: Dissertation, Ziirich, 1911, p. 30 und 74. 



