The following is an Arrhenius plot of a first-order reaction. The rate constant is measured in units of s^-1. If a catalyst is added to the reaction, which could correspond to an Arrhenius plot of the catalyzed reaction?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

A catalyst increases the rate of a reaction by lowering the activation energy, which means the reaction will have a lower activation energy and a higher rate constant. Choice B shows a lower activation energy and a higher rate constant compared to the original plot, which is consistent with the addition of a catalyst. The other choices either show no change or an increase in activation energy, which would not be consistent with a catalyzed reaction.

The Following Is an Arrhenius Plot of a First-Order Reaction