Homework 7E1

[Jasmine 2C]

How does a catalyst affect (a) the rate of the reverse reaction; (b) the value of ∆Hr° for the reaction?

Can someone explain the answer for part B?

[Diana_Diep2I]

It also speeds up the rate of the reverse reaction and because a catalyst only affects speed, it does not affect enthalpy.

[Delaney Smith 1C]

A catalyst doesn't affect deltaH! Remember to not mix thermodynamics with kinetics. All catalysts do is lower the activation energy of the reaction which therefore increases the rate of the reaction, but not the enthalpy of the reaction!

[Cooper Baddley 1F]

Just because the speed of the reaction is different doesn't mean the reaction itself is. It will still have the same enthalpy value.

[ShravanPatel2B]

A catalyst would speed up the rates of the reverse and forward reactions in part a. But however Catalysts have no effect on the delta H of a reaction because it does not affect thermodynamics.