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Chemistry Forums for Students => Undergraduate General Chemistry Forum => Topic started by: Astrokel on June 21, 2008, 12:19:57 PM

Title: Osmium Tetroxide
Post by: Astrokel on June 21, 2008, 12:19:57 PM

Hey all,

Any idea why Osmium Tetroxide (OsO₄) is a better catalyst than iron in the haber process?
I believe it is a heterogenous catalysis, any hint would be good enough.

And, my teacher said OsO₄ was used as a catalyst on buckminsterfullerene C₆₀, however i did some research online and found out OsO₄ was used as a confirmation of buckminsterfullerene and not as a catalyst. So probably my teacher is wrong?

Thanks for any help !  :)

Title: Re: Osmium Tetroxide
Post by: Astrokel on June 22, 2008, 01:21:52 AM

Since OsO₄ is a better catalyst, it provides an alternative route which has a lower Ea than Fe, but why? OsO₄ has a larger surface area for adsorption?

Any help would be good, thanks.