Question

what is catalyst? why it alters the rate of chemical reaction.

Answer 1

Hi,

Catalyst are the elements or compounds which increases or decreases the rate of reaction. They do not take part in the reaction and at the end of the reaction they can be recovered in original form.

They alter the rate of reaction i.e. the time taken by the reaction for completion is reduced.

It is so because catalyst reduces the activation energy barrier and thus reaction proceeds to completion in less time and hence the rate of reaction increases.