Chemistry Regents Practice Test 2025 – The All-in-One Guide to Exam Success!

Question: 1 / 400

Which of the following best describes the role of catalysts in chemical reactions?

They increase the activation energy

They decrease the reaction rate

They do not affect the reaction

They lower the activation energy required for a reaction

The role of catalysts in chemical reactions is best described by their ability to lower the activation energy required for a reaction to occur. Activation energy is the minimum amount of energy needed for reactants to transform into products. By reducing this energy barrier, catalysts increase the likelihood of reactant molecules successfully colliding with sufficient energy to react. This process accelerates the rate of the reaction, enabling it to proceed more quickly without being consumed in the reaction itself.

Moreover, catalysts provide an alternative pathway for the reaction, which requires less energy than the uncatalyzed pathway. This characteristic makes catalysts extremely valuable in both industrial processes and biological systems, where they help facilitate reactions under milder conditions and increase efficiency.

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