Chapter 7, Problem 7.46AP

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation:

The effect of catalyst on the activation energy on the reverse reaction when the activation energy of a forward reaction changes from $\text{28}\text{kcal/mol}$ to $\text{23}\text{kcal/mol}$ after the addition of catalyst has to be explained.

Concept Introduction:

Activation energy:

It is defined as the minimum energy required by the reacting species in order to undergo chemical reaction. Activation energy is different for different reactions.

The reaction having low activation energy has high rate of reaction whereas the reaction having high activation energy has low rate of reaction since the minimum energy for the collision is small resulting in less number of collisions.

Activation energy can be represented as $E_a$. The unit of activation energy is $\text{kJ/mol}$.

Catalyst:

The catalyst is a chemical substance that increases the rate of the reaction without participating in the reaction by reducing the activation energy of the reaction.

When catalyst is added, it let the reaction to take place in different steps such that the activation energy decreases and makes the energy barrier small. This increases the rate of reaction.