Catalytic cycle

Catalytic cycle is a term used to describe a way that chemical reactions can happen without using a lot of energy. Think of it like a seesaw. On one side of the seesaw there is a chemical with a lot of energy. On the other side, there is another chemical that needs energy to react. When the chemicals on the two sides touch, the energy from the first chemical transfers to the other, causing them to react and form a new chemical. This process can happen over and over, so that the reaction can keep going without needing to add more energy.