Catalyts - Unstable for reactions to occur?
Is it right that a catalyst needs to be in a unstable oxidation state for the reactions to occur?
If that is the case, why is it that:
Quote:
Magnesium oxide and calcium oxide, due to the fact that they are group 2 metal catalysts and have only one stable oxidation state, they are not very good catalysts for hydrogen peroxide's rate of decomposition and they do not form strong enough attachments with reactant molecules.
having one stable oxidation state means that they are not very good catalysts. shouldn't it mean that they are not catalysts --> that they would have no effect on hydrogen peroxide's rate of decomposition?