A catalyst functions to speed up chemical reaction. It does this by lowering the activation energy required for the reaction to begin by providing an alternative pathway for the substrates to interact with each.
The pathway ABD involves a reaction that requires a higher activation energy as compared to reaction following the pathway ACD as seen in the diagram.
So it means that a catalyst must be mediating the reaction with the lower activation energy. -pathway ACD, and this reaction will proceed faster than the reaction following the pathway ABD.
Hence option D is the only valid and correct option.
A buffer is formed by a weak acid (0.145 M HC₂H₃O₂) and its conjugate base (0.202 M C₂H₃O₂⁻ coming from 0.202 M KC₂H₃O₂). The pH of a buffer system can be calculated using Henderson-Hasselbalch's equation.
