Practicing Success
A catalyst is a substance which: |
Supplies energy to the reaction Increases the equilibrium concentration of the product Changes the equilibrium constant of the reaction Shortens the time to each equilibrium |
Shortens the time to each equilibrium |
The correct answer is option 4. Shortens the time to each equilibrium. A catalyst is a substance that speeds up a chemical reaction without being consumed in the process. It achieves this by providing an alternative reaction pathway with a lower activation energy. Let's analyze each option to see which correctly describes the role of a catalyst: 1. Supplies energy to the reaction: This statement is incorrect. A catalyst does not supply energy to the reaction. Instead, it lowers the activation energy required for the reaction to proceed. 2. Increases the equilibrium concentration of the product: This statement is incorrect. A catalyst does not change the equilibrium concentrations of reactants and products. It only helps the system reach equilibrium faster. This statement is incorrect. A catalyst does not change the equilibrium constant (\( K \)) of a reaction. The equilibrium constant is determined by the thermodynamics of the reaction, and a catalyst only affects the rate at which equilibrium is reached. 4. Shortens the time to reach equilibrium: This statement is correct. A catalyst increases the rate of both the forward and reverse reactions equally, thereby allowing the system to reach equilibrium faster without affecting the position of the equilibrium. |