Key learning points

1. A catalyst affects the reaction rate without being used up.
2. A catalyst reduces the activation energy needed for a reaction.
3. With a catalyst present, more collisions between reactants result in the formation of product(s).
4. Enzymes are biological catalysts.
5. Catalysts vary in efficiency; qualitative data helps evaluate effectiveness.

Keywords

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

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

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

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

Common misconception