Which term best describes substances that increase the rate without being consumed?

Which term best describes substances that increase the rate without being consumed?

• A. Inhibitors
• B. Catalysts
• C. Reactants
• D. Products

Answer: (B)

Catalysts increase the rate of a chemical reaction without being consumed. They provide an alternate reaction pathway with a lower activation energy, so more reactant molecules have enough energy to react in a given time. Because the catalyst is not consumed, it remains available to catalyze additional reactions. This is different from reactants, which are used up to form products, and from products, which are the substances produced. Inhibitors, by contrast, slow or stop reactions, illustrating how substances can affect rate in opposite ways.

Catalysts increase the rate of a chemical reaction without being consumed. They provide an alternate reaction pathway with a lower activation energy, so more reactant molecules have enough energy to react in a given time. Because the catalyst is not consumed, it remains available to catalyze additional reactions. This is different from reactants, which are used up to form products, and from products, which are the substances produced. Inhibitors, by contrast, slow or stop reactions, illustrating how substances can affect rate in opposite ways.