COMEDK20269 May 2026Evening ShiftChemistryChemical KineticsActual
Which of the following factors is altered by the addition of a catalyst during a chemical reaction?
Options
- AEntropy
- BActivation energy
- CEnthalpy
- DInternal energy
Correct answer
B. Activation energy
Step-by-step solution
A catalyst increases the rate of a chemical reaction by providing an alternative reaction pathway with a lower activation energy. Thermodynamic state functions such as entropy, enthalpy, and internal energy depend only on the initial and final states of the system (reactants and products) and are independent of the path taken. Therefore, they remain unaffected by the addition of a catalyst. Answer: Activation energy