catalysis

catalysis
    n 1: acceleration of a chemical reaction induced the presence of
         material that is chemically unchanged at the end of the
         reaction; "of the top 50 commodity chemicals, 30 are
         created directly by catalysis and another 6 are made from
         raw materials that are catalytically produced" [syn:
         {catalysis}, {contact action}]
    

Catalysis \Ca*tal"y*sis\, n.; pl. {Catalyse}.[ML., fr. Gr. ?
   dissolution, fr. ? to destroy, dissolve; kata` down, wholly +
   ? to loose.]
   [1913 Webster]
   1. Dissolution; degeneration; decay. [R.]
      [1913 Webster]

            Sad catalysis and declension of piety. --Evelyn.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. (Chem.)
      (a) A process by which a chemical reaction is accelerated
          in the presence of certain agents which were formerly
          believed to exert an influence by mere contact. It is
          now believed that such reactions are attended with the
          formation of an intermediate compound or compounds, so
          that by alternate composition and decomposition the
          agent is apparenty left unchanged; as, the catalysis
          of making ether from alcohol by means of sulphuric
          acid; or catalysis in the action of enzymes (as
          diastase, or ptyalin) on starch.
      (b) The catalytic force.
          [1913 Webster +PJC]
    

63 Moby Thesaurus words for "catalysis":
      acetification, acidification, acidulation, alkalization, avatar,
      carbonation, catabolism, catalyst, chemicalization,
      consubstantiation, decay, dialysis, displacement, dissociation,
      electrolysis, ferment, fermentation, fission, heterotopia,
      hydrogenation, hydrolysis, hydrolyst, isomerism, metabolism,
      metagenesis, metamerism, metamerization, metamorphism,
      metamorphosis, metastasis, metathesis, metempsychosis, mutant,
      mutated form, mutation, nitration, oxidation, oxidization,
      permutation, phosphatization, photolysis, polymerism,
      polymerization, position isomerism, reduction, reincarnation,
      saturization, splitting, sport, thermolysis, transanimation,
      transfiguration, transfigurement, transformation, transformism,
      translation, translocation, transmigration, transmogrification,
      transmutation, transposition, transubstantiation, working