I am trying to write a lab report and I stupidly picked a very difficult topic which we have not covered at all. After lots of research, I am trying to write the simplest, acceptable hypothesis that I can manage:
Basically, I need to explain why transition metals are better catalysts than group 2 metals.
I've got it basically done, except someone told me:
Group 2 metals do not make good catalysts for two reasons:
1. It has only one accessible oxidation state and lots of catalytic mechanisms involve oxidative addition or reductive elimination
2. Their d orbitals do not interact with organic ligands well. Since most metal mechanisms involve coordination chemistry this prevents group 2 from being able to do much.
I understand accessible oxidation states after A LOT of reading.
Could someone please tell me whether the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide involves oxidative addition/reductive elimination or whether it is number 2: coordination chemistry and all that complicated d orbital stuff which I would have to go research if it does?