Question

For a given chemical reaction, the addition of a catalyst provides a different pathway that(1) decreases the reaction rate and has a higher activation energy
(2) decreases the reaction rate and has a lower activation energy
(3) increases the reaction rate and has a higher activation energy
(4) increases the reaction rate and has a lower activation energy

Answer 1

For a given chemical reaction, the addition of a catalyst provides a different pathway that "(4) increases the reaction rate and has a lower activation energy"

Answer 2

Answer: Option (4) is the correct answer.

Explanation:

Activation energy is the minimum amount of energy required by the reactants to participate in the chemical reaction.

Therefore, reactant molecules whose energy is less than the activation energy are not able to participate in the reaction. Hence, a catalyst lowers the activation energy so that molecules with less energy can also participate in the reaction.

Thus, a catalyst is a specie that increases the reaction rate and has a lower activation energy.