Which of the following is not a characteristic of a catalyst?

It changes the equilibrium point

The correct answer is option 1. It changes the equilibrium point.

Catalysts are the substance that generally aids a reaction without being consumed in the reaction. They are the common substances found in both biology (known as enzymes) and chemistry. A catalyst is a compound that generally increases the rate of the reaction by lowering down the activation energy so that the reactant attains that energy faster.

Catalyst doest change the equilibrium point but yes it helps to attain that equilibrium. Adding a catalyst makes no difference to the position of the equilibrium.

All the reaction that takes place requires some amount of energy to activate or start.

Catalysts cannot start or initiate the reaction but sometime when the activation energy is large enough that reaction initiation is practically impossible until the catalyst lowers the activation energy.

Catalyst alters the rate of reaction by lowering down the activation energy

Catalyst increases the average K.E. of the reaction by increasing the speed of the reaction.