Catalysis

chemistry. the causing or accelerating of a chemical change by the addition of a .
an action between two or more persons or forces, initiated by an agent that itself remains unaffected by the action:
social catalyses occasioned by controversial writings.
historical examples

we call this catalysis, catalytic action, the action of presence, or by what learned name we choose.
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we may look upon this process as a special kind of catalysis.
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they’ve found the secret of catalysis, and can actually synthesize any catalytic agent they want.
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“i think you can rely upon your powers of catalysis, dorothy,” he said.
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the phenomenon known as “catalysis” is of common occurrence in both inorganic and organic chemistry.
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we should see the building of crystals, catalysis, and the movements of unstable compounds.
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noun (pl) -ses (-ˌsiːz)
acceleration of a chemical reaction by the action of a catalyst
n.

1650s, “dissolution,” from latinized form of greek katalysis “dissolution, a dissolving” (of governments, military units, etc.), from katalyein “to dissolve,” from kata- “down” (or “completely”), see cata-, + lyein “to loosen” (see lose). chemical sense “change caused by an agent which itself remains unchanged” is attested from 1836, introduced by swedish chemist jöns jakob berzelius (1779-1848).

catalysis ca·tal·y·sis (kə-tāl’ĭ-sĭs)
n. pl. ca·tal·y·ses (-sēz’)
the action of a catalyst, especially an increase in the rate of a chemical reaction.