The addition of a catalyst to a reaction provides an alternate mechanism with ...?

Question

A. lower activation energy and lower reaction rate.
B. lower activation energy and higher reaction rate.
C. higher activation energy and lower reaction rate.
D. higher activation energy and higher reaction rate.

Answer 1

B. If it catalyzes the reaction, it speeds it up, which means a higher reaction rate. It does so by providing an alternate path with a lower activation energy, which by the Arrhenius equation increases the rate constant k (k = A e^ -Ea/RT) and thus a higher rate.