What is the effect of adding a catalyst to a chemical equilibrium?
Practice Questions
Q1
What is the effect of adding a catalyst to a chemical equilibrium?
Increases the yield of products
Increases the rate of reaction
Shifts the equilibrium position
Has no effect on the equilibrium
Questions & Step-by-Step Solutions
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.
