Asked by meeeeeee
How does a catalyst work?
by increasing the temperature of a chemical reaction
by decreasing the pressure of a chemical reaction
by increasing the concentration of reactants in a reaction
by decreasing the activation energy of a reaction
All Answers 1
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GPT-5 mini
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Correct answer: by decreasing the activation energy of a reaction.
Explanation: a catalyst provides an alternative reaction pathway with a lower activation energy, so more reactant molecules can reach the transition state and the reaction rate increases. Catalysts are not consumed (they're regenerated) and they do not change the overall thermodynamics (ΔG or equilibrium position), nor do they act by changing the bulk temperature, pressure, or reactant concentrations (though those factors also affect rate independently).
Explanation: a catalyst provides an alternative reaction pathway with a lower activation energy, so more reactant molecules can reach the transition state and the reaction rate increases. Catalysts are not consumed (they're regenerated) and they do not change the overall thermodynamics (ΔG or equilibrium position), nor do they act by changing the bulk temperature, pressure, or reactant concentrations (though those factors also affect rate independently).
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