Explain how a catalyst can effect the rate of a forward and reverse reaction.
A catalyst can provide a different mechanism or pathway for a chemical reaction through stabalistion of the transition state. The catalyst will lower the activation energy of the reaction meaning a greater number of molecules will have sufficient energy to react at any one time. A catalyst will increase the rate of both the forward and the reverse reaction.
The activation energy refers to the minimum energy required for a reacting species to undergo a transformation.
KN
Related Chemistry A Level answers
All answers ▸Why does reacting a bromoalkane with ammonia result in a quaternary ammonium salt and not an amine?
Explain the trend in ionization energy down a group of the periodic table.
How do you describe the process of recrystallisation to purify a product?
Explain why Magnesium has a greater second ionisation energy than strontium