What is the effect of adding a catalyst to a chemical equilibrium?

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Question: What is the effect of adding a catalyst to a chemical equilibrium?

Options:

Correct Answer: Has no effect on the equilibrium

Solution:

A catalyst speeds up the rate of both the forward and reverse reactions equally, thus having no effect on the position of equilibrium.

What is the effect of adding a catalyst to a chemical equilibrium?

What is the effect of adding a catalyst to a chemical equilibrium?

Step 1: Understand what a catalyst is. A catalyst is a substance that speeds up a chemical reaction without being consumed in the process.
Step 2: Know that in a chemical equilibrium, the forward reaction (reactants turning into products) and the reverse reaction (products turning back into reactants) occur at the same rate.
Step 3: When a catalyst is added, it speeds up both the forward and reverse reactions equally.
Step 4: Since both reactions are sped up by the same amount, the ratio of products to reactants does not change.
Step 5: Therefore, the position of equilibrium remains the same, even though the reactions reach that equilibrium faster.

No concepts available.