What does a catalyst do to speed the reaction rate? It increases the concentration of the reactants. O It lowers the activation energy. It increases the kinetic energy of the reactants. It increases the temperature of the reaction. O It increases the number of collisions between the reactants.

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**Understanding Catalysts: Speeding Up Chemical Reactions**

**What does a catalyst do to speed the reaction rate?**

- ○ It increases the concentration of the reactants.
- ○ It lowers the activation energy.
- ○ It increases the kinetic energy of the reactants.
- ○ It increases the temperature of the reaction.
- ○ It increases the number of collisions between the reactants.

**Answer Explanation**

A catalyst functions by lowering the activation energy of a chemical reaction. Activation energy is the minimum amount of energy required for reactants to undergo a chemical transformation. By lowering this energy barrier, a catalyst enables more reactant molecules to have enough energy to react when they collide, thus speeding up the reaction rate without being consumed in the process.

Other options in the list:
- Increasing the concentration of the reactants does not describe the action of a catalyst but could also affect the reaction rate.
- Increasing the kinetic energy of the reactants is typically achieved by raising the temperature, not by adding a catalyst.
- Increasing the temperature of the reaction typically raises the reaction rate by increasing the kinetic energy of the molecules, which is separate from the specific action of a catalyst.
- Increasing the number of collisions between reactants can also increase reaction rate but is not a direct function of a catalyst.

For more detailed information and interactive learning on how catalysts work, check out our video lessons and quizzes on reaction kinetics!
Transcribed Image Text:**Understanding Catalysts: Speeding Up Chemical Reactions** **What does a catalyst do to speed the reaction rate?** - ○ It increases the concentration of the reactants. - ○ It lowers the activation energy. - ○ It increases the kinetic energy of the reactants. - ○ It increases the temperature of the reaction. - ○ It increases the number of collisions between the reactants. **Answer Explanation** A catalyst functions by lowering the activation energy of a chemical reaction. Activation energy is the minimum amount of energy required for reactants to undergo a chemical transformation. By lowering this energy barrier, a catalyst enables more reactant molecules to have enough energy to react when they collide, thus speeding up the reaction rate without being consumed in the process. Other options in the list: - Increasing the concentration of the reactants does not describe the action of a catalyst but could also affect the reaction rate. - Increasing the kinetic energy of the reactants is typically achieved by raising the temperature, not by adding a catalyst. - Increasing the temperature of the reaction typically raises the reaction rate by increasing the kinetic energy of the molecules, which is separate from the specific action of a catalyst. - Increasing the number of collisions between reactants can also increase reaction rate but is not a direct function of a catalyst. For more detailed information and interactive learning on how catalysts work, check out our video lessons and quizzes on reaction kinetics!
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