Question

Which of the followings is/are incorrect about catalyst?

• A. Catalyst alter the position of equilibrium.
  
• B. Catalyst increase the rate of both spontaneous and non- spontaneous reaction
• C. Catalyst does not initiate any reaction.
• D. A small amount of catalyst is required to catalyse a reaction.
  

Answer 1

Answer: (A), (B)

Catalyst increase the rate of both spontaneous and non- spontaneous reaction

General characteristics of catalyst:
1. Catalyst does not initiate any reaction. It only increase the rate of the reaction.
2. Only a small amount of catalyst is required to catalyse a large amount of reactants.
3. A catalyst does not alter the position of equilibrium. It only reduces the time taken to reach the equilibrium.
4. It does not alter the Gibbs energy $\left(\Delta G\right)$, of a reaction. Thus, only spontaneous reaction are catalysed and not the non-spontaneous ones.

Hence, statements (a) and (b) are incorrect.