Catalysts in industry
3 marks · EasyState what is meant by activation energy.
Explain how a catalyst affects the activation energy of a reaction.
Explain why the energy change (enthalpy change) for a reaction does not change when a catalyst is used.
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(a) The minimum energy required for a reaction to occur.
(b) A catalyst lowers the activation energy by providing an alternative route for the reaction.
(c) Because catalysts only change the path, not the energy difference between reactants and products.
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Marking points
B1 (a) · 1 mark · Correctly defines activation energy.
B2 (b) · 1 mark · Correctly explains that a catalyst lowers activation energy by providing an alternative reaction pathway.
B3 (c) · 1 mark · Correctly explains that enthalpy change does not change because the energy difference between reactants and products remains the same.
Worked solution
(a) Activation energy is the minimum energy that reacting particles must have for a reaction to occur.
(b) A catalyst lowers the activation energy by providing an alternative pathway for the reaction to take place.
(c) The enthalpy change does not change because a catalyst does not affect the energy difference between the reactants and products.