Catalysts and activation energy?

[Clara Rehmann 1K]

I had to miss the second half of lecture on Friday - can someone quickly explain to me the relationship between catalysts and activation energy and how that is calculated?

[Justin Chu 1G]

So essentially a catalyst is a substance that speeds up the reaction rate but is not consumed through the reaction itself. It does this by lowering the activation energy required for the reaction to occur (lowering the "hill" on the graph), making it easier to proceed with the reaction. As for how to calculate the activation energy, I believe you would use the Arrhenius equation.

[SPandya1F]

Catalysts increase the reaction rate without being consumed. A catalyst provides an alternative route for the reaction. That alternative route has a lower activation energy.