What is true about catalysts?

• A. They are consumed in the reaction
• B. They change final products
• C. They provide alternative route with lower activation energy
• D. They increase concentration of reactants

Answer: (C)

Catalysts speed up reactions by providing an alternative route with a lower activation energy. Activation energy is the energy barrier that reacting particles must overcome to transform into products; by offering a pathway that requires less energy, more particles can react at the same temperature, so the rate increases. Catalysts aren’t consumed in the reaction and they don’t change the final amount or identity of the products—they only affect how quickly the reaction proceeds. They also don’t increase the concentration of reactants; they simply make it easier for reactants to convert into products. So the statement about providing an alternative route with lower activation energy is the accurate description.