Catalysts and Rate of Reaction

[Kelli Chong [1B]]

Can someone further explain why catalysts affect both the forward and reverse direction of a reaction?

[Deep Mehta]

This is because it is lowering the activation energy for both the forward and reverse reaction, regardless of which way the equation is going, therefore both reactions are faster.

[Lan Wei 3I]

Hi,

a catalyst would provide an entirely new pathway with a lower activation energy. This means that the energy barrier is much lower and reactants and products can cross this barrier much more easily. So, it would affect both the forward and reverse rxns.

[505900922]

because they lower the overall activation energy which affects both forward and backward reactions because they lie on the same pathway