Access free live classes and tests on the app
Download
+
Unacademy
  • Goals
    • AFCAT
    • AP EAMCET
    • Bank Exam
    • BPSC
    • CA Foundation
    • CAPF
    • CAT
    • CBSE Class 11
    • CBSE Class 12
    • CDS
    • CLAT
    • CSIR UGC
    • GATE
    • IIT JAM
    • JEE
    • Karnataka CET
    • Karnataka PSC
    • Kerala PSC
    • MHT CET
    • MPPSC
    • NDA
    • NEET PG
    • NEET UG
    • NTA UGC
    • Railway Exam
    • SSC
    • TS EAMCET
    • UPSC
    • WBPSC
    • CFA
Login Join for Free
avtar
  • ProfileProfile
  • Settings Settings
  • Refer your friendsRefer your friends
  • Sign outSign out
  • Terms & conditions
  • •
  • Privacy policy
  • About
  • •
  • Careers
  • •
  • Blog

© 2023 Sorting Hat Technologies Pvt Ltd

Watch Free Classes
    • Free courses
    • JEE Main 2024
    • JEE Main 2024 Live Paper Discussion
    • JEE Main Rank Predictor 2024
    • JEE Main College Predictor 2024
    • Stream Predictor
    • JEE Main 2024 Free Mock Test
    • Study Materials
    • Notifications
    • JEE Advanced Syllabus
    • JEE Books
    • JEE Main Question Paper
    • JEE Coaching
    • Downloads
    • JEE Notes & Lectures
    • JEE Daily Videos
    • Difference Between
    • Full Forms
    • Important Formulas
    • Exam Tips
JEE Main 2026 Preparation: Question Papers, Solutions, Mock Tests & Strategy Unacademy » JEE Study Material » Chemistry » What is the Effect of Catalyst on the Rate of Reaction

What is the Effect of Catalyst on the Rate of Reaction

The term "catalyst" refers to any material that accelerates the pace at which a reaction occurs without being consumed itself.

Table of Content
  •  

In other words, a catalyst is a substance that accelerates the velocity of a chemical reaction without changing the nature of the substance itself.

A lower-activation-energy alternative pathway becomes available in the presence of a catalytic agent. Because less energy is required for success in collisions, more collisions are successful. It is possible to retrieve the catalyst once the reaction is completed and reuse it over and over again.

Homogeneous catalysis is defined as catalysis in which both the reactants and the catalyst are in the same phase at the same time. 

A heterogeneous catalyst is a catalyst that occurs in a distinct phase from the reactants it is used with.

A substance that has the ability to alter the rate of a chemical reaction but does not itself undergo the irreversible chemical change is known as a catalyst.

The activation energy of the reactant is reduced by the catalyst, which enhances the pace of the reaction.

EA Activation energy in the absence of a catalyst

EB Activation energy in the presence of a catalyst

Reaction energy A is equal to the difference between the paths of reaction without catalyst B and reaction with catalyst.

Catalysis is the process in which the rate of reaction is controlled by the presence of a catalyst.

Substrate is the term used to describe the reactant on which the catalyst acts.

Catalysts do not alter the heat of reaction; they merely accelerate the rate at which the reaction takes place.

The yield of the product is not affected by the catalyst.

Catalysts are classified into the following categories:

It is a positive catalyst if it is able to improve the rate of reaction while simultaneously lowering the activation energy of the reaction.

A negative catalyst is a catalyst that causes a chemical reaction to be delayed by raising the energy barrier or activation energy required for the reaction to occur.

Homogeneous catalysis is defined as catalysis in which the catalyst and reactants are both present in the same phase of the reaction.

Histological Catalysis: Catalysis in which the catalyst and reactants are in a distinct phase from one another.

The rate of a reaction is determined by the concentration of the reactants and the temperature of the reaction medium.

As is true for the concentration and temperature of a reaction, a catalyst has a significant impact on the rate of the reaction.

As specified by the definition of a catalyst, it is a substance that changes the rate at which a reaction occurs without experiencing any permanent chemical change.

A greater proportion of the collisions that occur between the reactants have enough energy to overcome the activation energy of the reaction. This is known as the collision probability. A high number of collisions become effective as a result, and the rate of the response accelerates as a result.

Max Trautz and William Lewis each made separate proposals for the collision theory in 1916 and 1918, respectively.

Chemical reactions occur when the hard, spherical molecules of reactants clash with one another, according to this idea. 

Furthermore, the reactant particles must collide not only with adequate energy, but also with the proper direction. Effective collisions are the type of collisions that occur when two objects collide. 

The result of these collisions is the development of the product. Following collision theory, the activation energy and appropriate orientation of the molecules work together to decide whether or not a collision is effective.

In chemistry, a catalyst is a material that changes the rate at which a reaction occurs without suffering any permanent chemical change itself.

In this case, the Gibbs energy (G) is used.

Gibb’s Energy

Gibbs energy can be thought of as a state function. It is dependent on enthalpy and entropy, both of which are dependent on the initial and ultimate positions of the substance, regardless of the path it takes to get there.

 The catalyst can aid in the speeding up of a reaction or the rapidity with which it reaches equilibrium. It has no effect on the reactants, products, or the equilibrium constant of the system. As a result, it has no effect on enthalpy or entropy. 

As a result, the Gibbs energy does not change as a result of the presence of the catalyst.

The amount of energy required to initiate a reaction

A catalyst aids in the achievement of equilibrium more quickly. Reduced activation energy between reactants and products allows for a faster approach of equilibrium, lowering the potential barrier and facilitating the formation of an alternate pathway or reaction mechanism. 

It has an effect on the rate of reaction.

In chemistry, a catalyst is any material that accelerates the pace of a reaction without being consumed by the reactants.

 To put it another way, it’s a substance that accelerates a chemical reaction without altering its nature or composition. 

– A catalyst is a substance that either speeds up or slows down the pace at which a chemical reaction takes place.

– A positive catalyst increases the rate at which the reaction occurs. 

– A negative catalyst causes the rate of the reaction to be delayed.

– No influence is had by the catalyst on the number of products that are created. Because of the presence of a catalyst, another pathway with a lower activation energy becomes feasible. 

Because less energy is required for success, a greater number of collisions are successful. Upon completion of the reaction, the catalyst can be retrieved and re-used indefinitely. 

Catalysts are chemicals that have the ability to accelerate the pace at which a reaction takes place. Activating catalysts work by decreasing the energy of the rate-limiting transition state, which causes processes to accelerate. 

Catalysts have no effect on the equilibrium state of a chemical reaction.

A novel reaction pathway with a lower activation energy is created by the use of catalysts. 

A catalyst accelerates a reaction by lowering the activation energy, so allowing more reactant molecules to collide with enough energy to overcome the lower energy barrier created by the lower activation energy.

When huge numbers of reactants are combined, just a very tiny amount of catalyst is required to accelerate the rate of reaction between them.

A catalyst is a substance that is specialised to a specific reaction:

Different reactions are catalysed by different catalysts.

Not all reactions can be aided by appropriate catalysts.

The following process, for example, can result in the formation of two molecules of water and one molecule of molecular oxygen gas when two molecules of hydrogen peroxide react together:

2 H2O2 (aq) 2H2O(I) + O2 = 2H2O2(aq) (g)

It takes an extremely long time for this reaction to occur at ambient temperature because only a small number of collisions between hydrogen peroxide molecules have enough energy to cause the reaction to occur.

 Aside from that, many commercial hydrogen peroxide solutions, such as the 3 percent hydrogen peroxide solution sold in drugstores and the 6 percent hydrogen peroxide solution sold by beauty supply stores, are treated with stabilisers (also known as negative catalysts) that raise the activation energy of the reaction, effectively preventing it from occurring.

 When a catalyst is added to a solution of hydrogen peroxide, the result is instantly visible. As oxygen gas is released from the solution, it begins to bubble. 

A wide range of compounds, including numerous metal oxides such as manganese dioxide, can catalyse the conversion of hydrogen peroxide to water and oxygen gas; however, the efficacy of catalysts varies depending on the substance.

 In addition to the enzyme catalase, which is found in the blood, one of the most efficient hydrogen peroxide catalysts is the enzyme catalase. In the body, catalase works in the role of a peroxide scavenger, eliminating peroxide molecules that would otherwise cause cell damage.

Conclusion-

A catalyst is a substance that accelerates the rate of a chemical reaction while not depleting the substance itself (remains chemically unchanged at the end). An alternate chemical route with lower activation energy is made available by this method.

faq

Frequently asked questions

Get answers to the most common queries related to the IIT JEE Examination Preparation.

The specific temperatures of Cp and Cv in gases are two times greater than those in solids and liquids, which is why.

Ans: The specific temperatures of gases are denoted by the letters Cp and Cv under constant pressure and constant volume, respectively, whereas the...Read full

Can you explain the relationship between CP and CV?

ANS.CP stands for specific heat capacity of a material under constant pressure. CV is a measure of a substance’s specific heat capacit...Read full

What is the CP/CV Ratio in this case?

Ans:The CP/CV ratio, often known as the adiabatic index, is the ratio of specific temperatures to specific volume.

What is the reason that Cp is bigger than Cv?

Ans.Due to the fact that when gas is heated at constant volume, the entire amount of heat supplied is required to raise the temperature alone, cp i...Read full

What is the difference between Cp and Cv?

Ans.Cp is the phrase used to describe the molar heat capacity of a substance when the pressure is constant, whereas Cv is the term...Read full

Ans: The specific temperatures of gases are denoted by the letters Cp and Cv under constant pressure and constant volume, respectively, whereas the specific heats of solids and liquids are denoted by a single letter.

ANS.CP stands for specific heat capacity of a material under constant pressure.

CV is a measure of a substance’s specific heat capacity at a constant volume.

Arrangements:

CP-CV=R, where R denotes the gas constant.

Cp/Cv = Y(also known as the ‘gamma’ specific heat capacity ratio).

Ans:The CP/CV ratio, often known as the adiabatic index, is the ratio of specific temperatures to specific volume.

Ans.Due to the fact that when gas is heated at constant volume, the entire amount of heat supplied is required to raise the temperature alone, cp is greater than CV. When gas is heated at constant pressure, on the other hand, the heat that is given is used to increase both the temperature and the volume of the gas being heated.

 

Ans.Cp is the phrase used to describe the molar heat capacity of a substance when the pressure is constant, whereas Cv is the term used to indicate the molar heat capacity of a substance when the volume is constant. As a result, the molar heat capacity is defined by these two factors when pressure and temperature are varied.

Crack IIT JEE with Unacademy

Get subscription and access unlimited live and recorded courses from India’s best educators

  • Structured syllabus
  • Daily live classes
  • Ask doubts
  • Tests & practice
Learn more

Notifications

Get all the important information related to the JEE Exam including the process of application, important calendar dates, eligibility criteria, exam centers etc.

Allotment of Examination Centre
JEE Advanced Eligibility Criteria
JEE Advanced Exam Dates
JEE Advanced Exam Pattern 2023
JEE Advanced Syllabus
JEE Application Fee
JEE Application Process
JEE Eligibility Criteria 2023
JEE Exam Language and Centres
JEE Exam Pattern – Check JEE Paper Pattern 2024
JEE Examination Scheme
JEE Main 2024 Admit Card (OUT) – Steps to Download Session 1 Hall Ticket
JEE Main Application Form
JEE Main Eligibility Criteria 2024
JEE Main Exam Dates
JEE Main Exam Pattern
JEE Main Highlights
JEE Main Paper Analysis
JEE Main Question Paper with Solutions and Answer Keys
JEE Main Result 2022 (Out)
JEE Main Revised Dates
JEE Marking Scheme
JEE Preparation Books 2024 – JEE Best Books (Mains and Advanced)
Online Applications for JEE (Main)-2022 Session 2
Reserved Seats
See all

Related articles

Learn more topics related to Chemistry
Zeolites

Aluminium silicate zeolites are microporous three-dimensional crystalline solids. Zeolites have small, fixed-size openings that allow small molecules to pass through easily but not larger molecules; this is why they are sometimes referred to as molecular sieves.

XeF6 Molecular Geometry and Bond Angles

In this article, we will learn about the XeF6 Molecular Geometry And Bond Angles in detail. We also learn the importance of XeF6 molecular geometry and bond angles importance and much more about the topic in detail.

XeF4 Molecular Geometry and Bond Angeles

A general overview of Lewis Structure, XeF4 Molecular Geometry and bond Angles meaning, valuable XeF4 Molecular Geometry and bond angle questions.

XeF2 Molecular Geometry and Bond Angles

Let us learn about the molecule XeF2, its molecular geometry and bond examples, and XeF2 Lewis structure.

See all
Access more than

10,505+ courses for IIT JEE

Get subscription
Challenge Yourself Everyday
Attempt 2023’s and previous year’s JEE Main
Download Important Formulas pdf
Attempt Free Test Series for JEE Main 2023

Trending Topics

  • JEE Main 2024
  • JEE Main Rank Predictor 2024
  • JEE Main Mock Test 2024
  • JEE Main 2024 Admit Card
  • JEE Advanced Syllabus
  • JEE Preparation Books
  • JEE Notes
  • JEE Advanced Toppers
  • JEE Advanced 2022 Question Paper
  • JEE Advanced 2022 Answer Key
  • JEE Main Question Paper
  • JEE Main Answer key 2022
  • JEE Main Paper Analysis 2022
  • JEE Main Result
  • JEE Exam Pattern
  • JEE Main Eligibility
  • JEE College predictor

JEE Coaching Centres

  • JEE Coaching in Nagpur
  • JEE Coaching in Ranchi
  • JEE Coaching in Gorakhpur
  • JEE Coaching in Bhubaneswar
  • JEE Coaching in Vijayawada
  • JEE Coaching in Dehradun
  • JEE Coaching in Indore
  • JEE Coaching in Gurugram
  • JEE Coaching in Muzaffarpur
  • JEE Coaching in Varanasi
  • JEE Coaching in Jammu
  • JEE Coaching in Kolhapur
  • JEE Coaching in Bikaner
  • JEE Coaching in Delhi Lajpat Nagar
Predict your JEE Rank
.
Company Logo

Unacademy is India’s largest online learning platform. Download our apps to start learning


Starting your preparation?

Call us and we will answer all your questions about learning on Unacademy

Call +91 8585858585

Company
About usShikshodayaCareers
we're hiring
BlogsPrivacy PolicyTerms and Conditions
Help & support
User GuidelinesSite MapRefund PolicyTakedown PolicyGrievance Redressal
Products
Learner appLearner appEducator appEducator appParent appParent app
Popular goals
IIT JEEUPSCSSCCSIR UGC NETNEET UG
Trending exams
GATECATCANTA UGC NETBank Exams
Study material
UPSC Study MaterialNEET UG Study MaterialCA Foundation Study MaterialJEE Study MaterialSSC Study Material

© 2026 Sorting Hat Technologies Pvt Ltd

Unacademy
  • Goals
    • AFCAT
    • AP EAMCET
    • Bank Exam
    • BPSC
    • CA Foundation
    • CAPF
    • CAT
    • CBSE Class 11
    • CBSE Class 12
    • CDS
    • CLAT
    • CSIR UGC
    • GATE
    • IIT JAM
    • JEE
    • Karnataka CET
    • Karnataka PSC
    • Kerala PSC
    • MHT CET
    • MPPSC
    • NDA
    • NEET PG
    • NEET UG
    • NTA UGC
    • Railway Exam
    • SSC
    • TS EAMCET
    • UPSC
    • WBPSC
    • CFA

Share via

COPY