BRAINCAKEEffect of Catalysts
A catalyst does not change the position of equilibrium, so it does not change the equilibrium yield of product.
A catalyst provides an alternative pathway with a lower activation energy. The same pathway is used in both directions, so the activation energy of the forward reaction and of the backward reaction are both lowered by the same amount.
As a result, the catalyst increases the rates of the forward and backward reactions by the same factor. The balance between them does not change, so:
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Key terms in this lesson
- equilibrium constant
- A value, Kc, expressing the ratio of product to reactant concentrations at equilibrium for a reaction at a given temperature.
- activation energy
- The minimum energy that colliding particles must have for a reaction to occur.
More in Reversible Reactions and Dynamic Equilibrium
- Dynamic Equilibrium
- Effect of Change in Concentration
- Effect of Change in Pressure
- Effect of Change in Temperature
- Limitations of Predictions
- Homogeneous and Heterogeneous Equilibria
- The Equilibrium Law
- Homogeneous Systems
All 18 lessons in Reversible Reactions and Dynamic Equilibrium · All Edexcel AS-level Chemistry topics