How does a catalyst increase the rate of a reaction?

Answer and explanation

Correct answer: A. It provides an alternative route with a lower activation energy

  1. Step 1: More molecules have energy equal to or greater than the lower activation energy, so more collisions are successful. Answer: It provides an alternative route with a lower activation energy. Why not the others: a catalyst lowers rather than raises activation energy; it speeds forward and reverse reactions equally, so equilibrium position is unchanged; delta H is unchanged.

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