alleryStart learning →What effect does a catalyst have on the position of an equilibrium?
AIt shifts the position towards the products
BIt shifts the position towards the reactants
CIt leaves the position of equilibrium unchanged
DIt removes the equilibrium from the system
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: C. It leaves the position of equilibrium unchanged
1. A catalyst lowers the activation energy of the forward reaction.
2. It lowers the barrier for the reverse reaction by the same amount.
3. So both directions are accelerated equally.
4. The system therefore arrives at equilibrium sooner, but at the very same place.
5. The value of the equilibrium constant is untouched, so no shift towards either side occurs.
_Source: OpenStax Chemistry (CC BY 4.0), Ch 12 "Kinetics", section 12.7 Catalysis_
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