Question

what makes the statement 'the presence of a catalyst will slow down a reaction' incorrect? a catalyst will either increase or decrease the rate of reaction based on what type of material is used. a catalyst actually increases the rate of reaction by its very introduction into a slow process. a catalyst will increase the rate of reaction by raising the amount of energy dedicated to fueling the process. a catalyst actually increases the rate of reaction by lowering the amount of energy needed to start the process.

Answer 1

A catalyst increases the rate of a chemical reaction by lowering the activation energy required, thereby making the process quicker without being consumed or affecting the overall reaction stoichiometry.

Step-by-step explanation:

The statement 'the presence of a catalyst will slow down a reaction' is incorrect because a catalyst actually serves to increase the rate of a reaction. This is achieved not by raising the amount of energy dedicated to fueling the process, but by lowering the activation energy needed. Catalysts achieve this by providing a new path with a lower energy barrier for the reaction to occur, facilitating more effective collisions between reactant molecules and thus increasing reaction rates. Furthermore, catalysts are not consumed in the reaction and do not affect the overall stoichiometry. Rather, they make a slow process quicker by making it energetically easier for the reactants to convert into products.