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The rate of decomposition of hydrogen peroxide is increased by the presence of a catalyst - VCE - SSCE Chemistry - Question 2 - 2003 - Paper 1
Question 2
The rate of decomposition of hydrogen peroxide is increased by the presence of a catalyst. The catalyst A. increases the equilibrium constant for the reaction. B. pr... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:The rate of decomposition of hydrogen peroxide is increased by the presence of a catalyst - VCE - SSCE Chemistry - Question 2 - 2003 - Paper 1
Step 1
B. provides a reaction pathway with a lower activation energy.
Answer
The correct answer is B. A catalyst functions by providing an alternative reaction pathway that has a lower activation energy compared to the uncatalyzed reaction. This lowers the energy barrier for the reaction, allowing more reactant molecules to have sufficient energy to undergo the reaction at a given temperature. Consequently, the rate of the reaction increases in the presence of a catalyst without affecting the equilibrium constant.