The addition of a catalyst during a chemical reaction alters which of the following quantities?
- Enthalpy
- Activation energy
- Entropy
- Internal energy
Answer
(2) Activation energy
Solution
As per NCERT, a catalyst provides an alternate pathway (reaction path) of lower activation energy.
Enthalpy, entropy and internal energy are state functions; they depend only on the initial and final states, which a catalyst does not change.
∴ A catalyst alters only the activation energy.
Answer: (2)