Which statement is true about catalysts in chemical reactions?

Which statement is true about catalysts in chemical reactions?

• A. They slow down the rate
• B. They are unchanged by the reaction
• C. They increase the rate and are not consumed
• D. They have no effect on rate

Answer: (C)

Catalysts speed up chemical reactions by providing an alternative pathway with a lower activation energy, so more reactant molecules have enough energy to react at the same temperature. Because this new pathway is just a different route, the catalyst itself isn’t consumed by the reaction and remains unchanged, ready to catalyze additional turnover. This means the rate increases, while the overall amounts of reactants and products at equilibrium depend on the reaction’s thermodynamics, not on the catalyst. In short, a catalyst accelerates the reaction without being consumed.

Catalysts speed up chemical reactions by providing an alternative pathway with a lower activation energy, so more reactant molecules have enough energy to react at the same temperature. Because this new pathway is just a different route, the catalyst itself isn’t consumed by the reaction and remains unchanged, ready to catalyze additional turnover. This means the rate increases, while the overall amounts of reactants and products at equilibrium depend on the reaction’s thermodynamics, not on the catalyst. In short, a catalyst accelerates the reaction without being consumed.