Question

Which are not the characteristics of a catalyst?
A. It changes the equilibrium point
B. It initiates the reaction
C. It alters the rate of reaction
D. It increases the average K.E. of the molecules

Answer 1

A catalyst is a substance that alters the rate of reaction. A catalyst does this by reducing the activation energy and provides a different pathway. Catalysts are extensively used in industry for carrying out the chemical reaction at higher rates.

Complete Step by step answer: Catalysts are the substance that generally aids a reaction without being consumed in the reaction. They are the common substances found in both biology (known as enzymes) and chemistry. A catalyst is a compound that generally increases the rate of the reaction by lowering down the activation energy so that the reactant attains that energy faster.
Catalyst doest change the equilibrium point but yes it helps to attain that equilibrium. Adding a catalyst makes no difference to the position of the equilibrium.
All the reaction that takes place requires some amount of energy to activate or start.
Catalysts cannot start or initiate the reaction but sometime when the activation energy is large enough that reaction initiation is practically impossible until the catalyst lowers the activation energy.
Catalyst alters the rate of reaction by lowering down the activation energy
Catalyst increases the average K.E. of the reaction by increasing the speed of the reaction.

So, the correct option is A.

Note: If the catalyst and reactant/ product are in different phases then they are known as heterogeneous catalysts. On the other hand, if the catalysts are in the same phase as that of the reactant then these are known as homogeneous catalysts.