ENGLISH
REFERENCE

promoter

n. countable
C1 Advanced US //pɹəˈmoʊtɝ// UK //pɹəmˈəʊtɐ// pro·mot·er

n. a substance that you add to a catalyst to make it work even better. It does not do the job on its own, but it helps the main chemical reaction happen faster or more easily.

n. a substance added to a catalyst to increase its activity or selectivity in a chemical reaction. It is not a catalyst itself but modifies the surface or electronic properties of the primary catalytic agent.


SIMPLE

The scientist added a promoter to speed up the chemical reaction.

CONTEXTUAL

In the production of ammonia, small amounts of potassium are used as a promoter to enhance the iron catalyst's efficiency.

COMPLEX

The research team investigated how different alkali metal promoters affect the structural stability of the cobalt catalyst during long-term exposure to high-pressure carbon monoxide.

Synonyms
Origin

From promote + -er.

Usage

Commonly used in industrial chemistry contexts; often followed by the preposition 'for' or 'of' when specifying the catalyst it assists.

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