Question

Explain with a well-labelled diagram, the concept of activation energy, and how a catalyst affects such energy?

Answer 1

Well, where is your well-labelled diagram?

Explanation:

The decisive factor is `E_a`, the energy of activation..... A catalyst can do NOTHING with respect to the enthalpy or free energy change of the reaction (i.e. the difference in energy between `X,Y` and `Z` in the diagram). A catalyst CAN alter `E_a` by providing an alternative reaction pathway.

If the catalyst LOWERS `E_a`, then more of the reactant molecules have the requisite activation energy, and equilibrium should be reached more rapidly.