Concept:A catalyst changes the path of a reaction by lowering activation energy, but it does not alter the energy difference between reactants and products.
Explanation:A catalyst provides an alternative pathway with lower activation energy.
This lower activation energy applies to both the forward reaction and the reverse reaction.
Therefore, the forward reaction rate increases, and the rate of the reverse reaction also increases.
The heat of reaction, represented as
ΔH, depends only on the initial energy of reactants and the final energy of products.
Since a catalyst does not change the initial or final energy states,
ΔH remains unchanged.
With temperature and pressure held constant, adding a catalyst cannot affect the heat of reaction.
Answer:The heat of the reaction is unaffected.
Correct option:
D. heat of reaction