Answer: Option (a) is the correct answer.
Step-by-step explanation:
Catalysts are the species or substances which help in increasing the rate of a reaction by providing a new reaction pathway.
Thus, the reactant molecules which have low energy can now actively participate in the reaction and can cross the small energy barrier easily which is provided by the new pathway. Therefore, the activation energy decreases and rate of reaction increases.
Thus, we can conclude that as catalysts can save money by essentially lowering the activation energy.