1. Langmuir explained the action of catalyst in heterogeneous catalysed reactions based on adsorption. The reactant molecules are adsorbed on the catalyst surfaces, so this can also be called as contact catalysis.
2. According to this theory, various steps involved in a heterogeneous catalyse reaction are given as follows:
(i) Reactant molecules diffuse from bulk to the catalyst surface.
(ii) The reactant molecules are adsorbed on the surface of the catalyst.
(iii) The adsorbed reactant molecules are activated and form activated complex which is decomposed to form the products.
(iv) The product molecules are desorbed.
(v) The product diffuse away from the surface of the catalyst.

The intermediate compound formation theory :
A catalyst acts by providing a new path with low energy of activation. In homogeneous catalysed reactions a catalyst may combine with one or more reactant to form an intermediate which reacts with other reactant or decompose to give products and the catalyst is regenerated.
Consider the reactions :
A+B➝AB; C is the catalyst .............(1)
A + C ➝ AC (intermediate) ..........(2)
AC + B ⟶ AB + C ...............(3)
Example 1:
The mechanism of Fridel crafts reaction is given below
\({ C }_{ 6 }{ H }_{ 6 }+{ { CH }_{ 3 }Cl\overset { anhydrous\\ { AlCl }_{ 3 } }{ \longrightarrow } }{ C }_{ 6 }{ H }_{ 5 }{ CH }_{ 3 }+HCl\) 
The action of catalyst is explained as follows
CH₃Cl + AlCl₃ ⟶ [CH₃]⁺ [AlCl₄]^-
It is an intermediate.
\({ C }_{ 6 }{ H }_{ 6 }+\left[ { CH }_{ 3 }^{ + } \right] \left[ { AlCl }_{ 4 } \right] ^{ - }\longrightarrow { C }_{ 6 }{ H }_{ 5 }{ CH }_{ 3 }+{ AlCl }_{ 3 }+Hcl\) 
Example 2:
\({ { 2KClO }_{ 3 }\overset {\\ { MnO }_{ 3 } }{ \longrightarrow } }{ 2KCl }+{ 3O }_{ 2 }\)
Thermal decomposition of KCIO₃ in the presence of MnO₂ proceeds as follows. Steps in the reaction
2KCIO₃ ⟶ 2KCI + 3O₂ Can be given as
2KClO₃ + 6MnO₂   →  6MnO₃ + 2KCl
It is an intermediate
6MnO₃ → 6MnO₂ + 3O₂
Example 3:
Formation of water due to the reaction of H₂ and O₂ in the presence of Cu can be given as
H₂ + 1/2O₂ → H₂O 
2Cu + \(\frac{1}{2}\)O₂   → Cu₂O
It is an intermediate.
Cu₂O + H₂  → H₂O + 2Cu
Advantages:
This theory describes
(a) The specificity of a catalyst and
(b) The increase in the rate of the reaction with increasc inthe concentration of a catalyst
Limitations:
(a) The intermediate compound theory fails to explain the action of catalytic poison and activators (promoters).
(b) This theory is unable to explain the mechanism of heterogeneous catalysed reactions.

(i) Emulsions are used in food industries. Food stuff like milk, cream, butter, etc., are emulsions.
(ii) Emulsions are very common in pharmaceutical industries. Many medicines are produced in the form of emulsions. Ex: Milk of magnesia is used for stomach troubles. Many lotions and ointments are emulsions.
(iii) Non ionic emulsions are most popular due to their low toxicity.
(iv) Cationic emulsions have anti microbial properties.
(v) In agriculture industry emulsions are used as delivery vehicles for insecticides, fungicides and pesticides.
(vi) In cosmetics, emulsions are the delivery vehicles for many hair and skin conditioning agents.
(v) The blood, protoplasm in plant and animal cells and fats in intestines are emulsions.

Addition of electrolytes:
A negative ion causes the precipitation of positively charged sol and vice versa. When the valency of ion is high, the precipitation power is increased.
For example, the precipitation power of some cations and anions varies in the following order
\(\mathrm{Al}^{3+}>\mathrm{Ba}^{2+}>\mathrm{Na}^{+} \text {, Similarly }\left[\mathrm{Fe}\left(\mathrm{CN}_{6}\right)\right]^{3-}>\mathrm{SO}_{4}{ }^{2-}>\mathrm{Cl}^{-}\)
The precipitation power of electrolyte is determined by finding the minimum concentration (millimoles/lit) required to cause precipitation of a sol in 2 hours. This value is called flocculation value. The smaller the flocculation value greater will be precipitation.

(i) A Colloid depends on the size of the particle. A Colloid is formed when the size of the particle lies between 1 nm and 100 nm. For example soap dissolves in water to form colloidal soap solution whereas it dissolves in alcohol to form a true solution. Thus change of state takes place. A colloidal state maybe an intermediate between a true solution and a suspension.
(ii) Also some crystalloids under certain conditions can be colloids. NaCl is a crystalloid in aqueous medium; but when mixed with benzene it acts as a colloid.

(a) The product or the unreacted reactant has to be removed from the surface of the catalyst. Desorption helps this.
(b) It makes the catalyst free for the next reaction (ie) adsorption of new reactants.

(a) Blood is a colloidal sol. When we rub the injured part with moist alum, coagulation of blood takes place.
(b) Coagulation stops bleeding. Moist alum is an electrolyte.

(i) Certain substances when added to a catalysed reaction decreases or completely destroys the activity of catalyst and they are often known as catalytic poisons.
For example,
(ii) In the reaction, 2SO₂ + O₂ ⟶ 2SO₃ with a Pt catalyst, the poison is As₂O₃
(iii) i.e., As₂O₃ destroys the activity of Pt. As₂O₃ blocks the activity of the catalyst. So, the activity is lost.

A sol is electrically neutral. Hence the medium carries an equal but opposite charge to that of dispersed particles. When sol particles are prevented from moving, under the influence of electric field the medium moves in a direction opposite to that of the sol particles. This movement of dispersion medium under the influence of electric potential is called electro osmosis.