What is the effect of a catalyst on the equilibrium position of a reversible reaction?
Practice Questions
1 question
Q1
What is the effect of a catalyst on the equilibrium position of a reversible reaction?
Shifts the equilibrium to the right
Shifts the equilibrium to the left
No effect on equilibrium position
Increases the equilibrium constant
A catalyst does not affect the position of equilibrium; it only speeds up the rate at which equilibrium is reached.
Questions & Step-by-step Solutions
1 item
Q
Q: What is the effect of a catalyst on the equilibrium position of a reversible reaction?
Solution: A catalyst does not affect the position of equilibrium; it only speeds up the rate at which equilibrium is reached.
Steps: 6
Step 1: Understand what a reversible reaction is. A reversible reaction can go in both directions, producing reactants and products.
Step 2: Learn about equilibrium. Equilibrium is the state where the rate of the forward reaction equals the rate of the backward reaction, and the concentrations of reactants and products remain constant.
Step 3: Know what a catalyst does. A catalyst is a substance that speeds up a chemical reaction without being consumed in the process.
Step 4: Realize that a catalyst affects the rate of the reaction. It makes both the forward and backward reactions happen faster.
Step 5: Understand the key point: A catalyst does not change the position of equilibrium. It does not favor either the reactants or the products.
Step 6: Conclude that while a catalyst helps reach equilibrium faster, it does not change the concentrations of reactants and products at equilibrium.
