Pearson Edexcel International GCSE (9–1) · CHEMISTRY · Section
Catalysts in industry
19 practice questions
Practice questions
1–10 of 19
Question 1
1 mark · Easy
Answer and see the solution →State one reason why catalysts are important in industrial chemical processes.
Question 2
3 marks · Easy
Answer and see the solution →(a)[1 mark]State what is meant by activation energy.
(b)[1 mark]Explain how a catalyst affects the activation energy of a reaction.
(c)[1 mark]Explain why the energy change (enthalpy change) for a reaction does not change when a catalyst is used.
Question 3
2 marks · Easy
Answer and see the solution →Describe how you could show that a new powder is a catalyst for the decomposition of a solution. Include the key observations needed to confirm it is a catalyst.
Question 4
3 marks · Easy
Answer and see the solution →The contact process for making sulfuric acid uses vanadium(V) oxide as a catalyst. In one experiment, 100 cm³ of sulfur dioxide and excess oxygen were reacted at 450°C and 2 atm, both with and without the catalyst. With the catalyst, the reaction reached equilibrium in 2 minutes. Without the catalyst, it took 10 minutes.
(a)[1 mark]How does the catalyst affect the rate of the reaction?
(b)[1 mark]Does the catalyst increase the amount of sulfuric acid produced at equilibrium? Give a reason for your answer.
(c)[1 mark]Explain why using a catalyst is economically important in this reaction.
Question 5
1 mark · Easy
Answer and see the solution →State how a catalyst affects the activation energy of a reaction.
Question 6
3 marks · Easy
Answer and see the solution →(a)[3 marks]Draw a fully labelled reaction profile diagram for a reaction that is exothermic, showing the effect of a catalyst.
Question 7
2 marks · Easy
Answer and see the solution →In an experiment, two reactions are compared: one with a catalyst and one without. The time for the reaction without a catalyst is 30 minutes. With a catalyst, the same reaction takes 10 minutes. If a student wants to show the substance is a catalyst, what further step should she take besides measuring the rates? Explain your answer.
Question 8
2 marks · Easy
Answer and see the solution →Draw a reaction profile diagram for a reaction. Your diagram should show both the activation energy for the uncatalysed and catalysed reaction paths. Clearly label the energy of reactants, energy of products, activation energy for both paths, and the effect of the catalyst.
Question 9
2 marks · Normal
Answer and see the solution →State two reasons why catalysts are important in industrial chemical reactions.
Question 10
4 marks · Normal
Answer and see the solution →Read the passage below and answer the questions that follow.
(a)[2 marks]Explain how a catalyst lowers the activation energy of a reaction.
(b)[1 mark]State what effect a catalyst has on the overall enthalpy change (ΔH) of the reaction.
(c)[1 mark]Does the catalyst get used up in the reaction? Explain your answer.