Maxwell-Boltzmann Distribution Curve - Catalyst

Question 1

Catalysis is the

Answer 1

process in which the rate of a chemical reaction is increased, by adding a catalyst

Question 2

A catalyst increases

Answer 2

the rate of a reaction by providing the reactants with an alternative reaction pathway which is lower in activation energy than the uncatalysed reaction

Question 3

Catalysts can be divided into two types:

Answer 3

Homogeneous catalysts

Heterogeneous catalysts

Question 4

Homogeneous catalysts

Answer 4

means that the catalyst is in the same phase as the reactants
For example, the reactants and the catalysts are all in solution

Question 5

Heterogeneous catalysts

Answer 5

Heterogeneous means that the catalyst is in a different phase to the reactants
For example, the reactants are gases but the catalyst used is a solid

Question 6

Catalysts provide the reactants another pathway which has a

Answer 6

lower activation energy

Question 7

By lowering Ea, a greater proportion of molecules in the reaction mixture have the …………. and therefore have enough energy for an?

Answer 7

By lowering Ea, a greater proportion of molecules in the reaction mixture have the activation energy, and therefore have sufficient energy for an effective collision

As a result of this, the rate of the catalysed reaction is increased compared to the uncatalyzed reaction