Adding a catalyst to a reaction will

Adding a catalyst to a reaction will

• A. Increase the energy of activation for the reaction
• B. Have no effect on activation energy
• C. Change the reaction's equilibrium constant
• D. Decrease the energy of activation for the reaction

Answer: (D)

A catalyst provides an alternate pathway for the reaction with a lower energy barrier to reach the transition state. Activation energy is the minimum energy reactants must attain to convert to products; by lowering this barrier, the reaction can proceed more quickly, since the rate constant increases as the required energy is reduced. A catalyst speeds up both the forward and reverse reactions equally, so it does not change the equilibrium constant or the position of equilibrium at a given temperature. In short, adding a catalyst lowers the energy of activation, speeding up the reaction without altering its ultimate balance of products and reactants.

A catalyst provides an alternate pathway for the reaction with a lower energy barrier to reach the transition state. Activation energy is the minimum energy reactants must attain to convert to products; by lowering this barrier, the reaction can proceed more quickly, since the rate constant increases as the required energy is reduced. A catalyst speeds up both the forward and reverse reactions equally, so it does not change the equilibrium constant or the position of equilibrium at a given temperature. In short, adding a catalyst lowers the energy of activation, speeding up the reaction without altering its ultimate balance of products and reactants.