Chemistry – Chemical reactions - Rate of reaction | e-Consult

Adding a catalyst increases the rate of reaction. A catalyst provides an alternative reaction pathway with a lower activation energy. Collision theory explains this by stating that a catalyst provides a surface or intermediate that allows reactant particles to collide more effectively. Instead of reactants colliding directly, they collide with the catalyst, forming an intermediate complex. This complex then breaks down to form the products, releasing the catalyst to participate in further reactions. Because the activation energy is lower, a larger proportion of reactant particles will have sufficient energy to react, resulting in a faster reaction rate. Enzymes are biological catalysts that work in a similar way, providing a specific binding site for reactants, thus lowering the activation energy for the reaction.