Section: Chemistry: Section I

24) Adding a catalyst to a chemical reaction will:

1. lower the activation energy needed.
2. lower the potential energy of the reactants.
3. increase the activation energy needed.
4. increase the potential energy of the reactants.

Catalysts speed up a reaction by lowering the activation energy needed to get the reaction started. However, catalyst never change the potential energies of the reactants or products, and they never change the heat of reaction.