A catalyst is a chemical that increases the rate of a reaction without itself being used up.

The minimum energy that the particles must have in order to react is known as the activation energy.

Reaction profiles are diagrams that show the energy of the reactants and products in a chemical reaction.

Qualitative data is information that describes qualities or characteristics that cannot be measured with numbers.

Catalysts and rate

Combined science

In the Industrial Chemistry unit, pupils will build on their knowledge of reaction rates to learn about the industrial processes involving chemical reactions and the factors that affect them.

In the Energy Changes in Reactions unit, pupils learned about bond breaking, bond making, and reaction profiles.

This unit explores factors influencing reaction rates, including temperature, concentration, surface area, and catalysts. It covers using models and theories to develop hypotheses, planning and conducting experiments safely, selecting appropriate techniques, and presenting and translating data.

Rate of reaction

increasing the concentration of reacting solutions

decreasing the surface area of a solid reactant

increasing the pressure of reacting gases

Which of the following will increase the rate of a chemical reaction?

it has no effect on the activation energy

How does a catalyst affect the activation energy of a reaction?

biological catalysts that speed up reactions in living organisms

catalysts that increase the activation energy

Qualitative data can be used to evaluate the effectiveness of catalysts.

When a catalyst is present more collisions between reactants result in a product

When a catalyst is present less collisions between reactants result in a product

Which of the following statements about catalysts are correct?

they increase the reaction rate and reduce energy consumption

Why are catalysts important in industrial processes?

Which label shows the activation energy for the reaction when a catalyst has been used?

Which label is missing from this reaction profile?

Which label is missing from the y-axis on this reaction profile?

the energy all reactant particles contain

the maximum energy that particles can contain

the minimum energy that particles can contain

the maximum energy that the particles must have in order to react

the minimum energy that the particles must have in order to react

Catalysts provide an alternative route for a reaction with a lower activation energy. What is activation energy?

Which of the following is an example of an enzyme?

by decreasing the frequency of successful collisions

by increasing the frequency of successful collisions

lowering the temperature so that particles have less energy

raising the temperature so that particles have more energy

providing a pathway for particles to react with a lower activation energy

How could we increase the rate of a chemical reaction?

Catalysts have to be replaced after each reaction.

Catalysts are not used up in chemical reactions.

Catalysts have many uses, such as being used in catalytic converters in cars. Which of the following statements about catalysts are correct?

This lesson will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.

Catalysts and rate

Lesson outcome

This lesson will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.