## Catalyst

$aR \to bP, Rate = -\frac{1}{a} \frac{d[R]}{dt} = \frac{1}{b}\frac{d[P]}{dt}$

Brandon_Goenawan2O
Posts: 10
Joined: Wed Sep 21, 2016 2:56 pm

### Catalyst

Hello,

I am a little uncertain about catalysts and rate laws. I understand they do not alter the rate constant in a zero order reaction as seen in the course reader but do they affect rate laws in higher orders?

Chem_Mod
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### Re: Catalyst

Yes, catalysts should affect the rate of a reaction. Catalysts speed up the reaction by lowering the activation energy of that reaction. As shown by the Arrhenius equation, lowering the activation energy $E_{a}$ increases the rate constant, k.

Wenqian_Deng_1L
Posts: 23
Joined: Wed Sep 21, 2016 3:00 pm

### Re: Catalyst

Does changing the temperature also affect the catalyst, which then affects the activation energy and the rate constant?

Milan M
Posts: 10
Joined: Tue Nov 10, 2015 3:00 am

### Re: Catalyst

Increasing temperature will increase the rate of reaction with catalysts, but up to a point. At around 40 degrees C, some enzymes will denature and no longer be able to catalyze.