Question detail

In a reaction profile, what does a catalyst do to the energy barrier?

Try the question, check the answer, then read the explanation to understand the curriculum point.

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At a glance

MCQ

Type

practice

Style

Topic

Rate of reaction

Question

A. Raises the energy barrier
B. Lowers the energy barrier
C. Keeps the energy barrier the same
D. Eliminates the energy barrier

Answer

Lowers the energy barrier

Explanation

The correct answer is Lowers the energy barrier. This answer directly addresses the question: In a reaction profile, what does a catalyst do to the energy barrier? It matches the approved Chemistry 8462 learning objective and the linked subtopic. The other options are incorrect because they either change the rate, catalyst, reversible reaction, equilibrium, or graph context, or they do not answer the exact point being tested.

Common mistake

Misunderstanding Reaction Profiles

Students often confuse the energy levels of reactants and products in catalysed and uncatalysed reactions on reaction profiles.

To fix this, students should practice sketching reaction profiles, clearly labeling the activation energy for both catalysed and uncatalysed pathways, and noting how the catalyst lowers the activation energy.

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