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

Adding a catalyst usually lowers the activation energy of a reaction, which increases the rate constant. This is reflected in the Arrhenius plot by a shift to the left, resulting in a lower activation energy and a higher rate constant at a given temperature. Choice B shows this characteristic shift to the left, indicating that a catalyst has been added to the reaction.

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