Questions about Catalysts
Multiple-Choice Questions: Catalysts
1. What is a catalyst?
A) A reactant that speeds up a reaction
B) A substance that increases the rate of a reaction without being consumed
C) A product that absorbs energy
D) A solvent used to dilute a solution
E) A base added to neutralize acids
2. How does a catalyst affect the activation energy of a reaction?
A) It increases it
B) It decreases it
C) It eliminates it
D) It has no effect
E) It makes it negative
3. What is the role of a catalyst in a chemical reaction?
A) Increases temperature
B) Alters the equilibrium position
C) Provides an alternative reaction pathway with lower activation energy
D) Changes the amount of product formed
E) Acts as a reactant
4. Which of the following is a biological catalyst?
A) Hormone
B) Vitamin
C) Enzyme
D) Nucleic acid
E) Protein supplement
5. What happens to a catalyst after the reaction is completed?
A) It is destroyed
B) It is transformed into a product
C) It remains chemically unchanged
D) It becomes part of the solvent
E) It turns into an inhibitor
6. Which statement is true about catalysts and equilibrium?
A) Catalysts increase the equilibrium constant
B) Catalysts shift the equilibrium to the right
C) Catalysts lower the temperature at equilibrium
D) Catalysts do not affect the position of equilibrium
E) Catalysts stop the reaction once equilibrium is reached
7. Which of the following is an example of a catalyst in the Haber process?
A) Iron
B) Platinum
C) Nickel
D) Copper
E) Sodium
8. Which characteristic is typical of a good catalyst?
A) High solubility in water
B) Chemically reactive in the product phase
C) High specificity and stability
D) High molecular weight
E) Radioactivity
9. What is the effect of a catalyst on the rate of a chemical reaction?
A) Slows it down
B) Stops it
C) Speeds it up
D) Has no effect
E) Prevents equilibrium
10. Which of the following processes uses a platinum catalyst?
A) Fermentation
B) Contact process for sulfuric acid
C) Neutralization
D) Decomposition of hydrogen peroxide
E) Haber process
11. Enzymes typically function best at:
A) Very high temperatures
B) Any pH
C) Specific pH and temperature ranges
D) Low light intensity
E) Maximum pressure
12. Catalysts are most useful in:
A) Slowing down undesirable reactions
B) Increasing activation energy
C) Increasing reaction rates without being used up
D) Becoming part of the reaction products
E) Diluting the reactants
13. Which is an example of a heterogeneous catalyst?
A) Acid in aqueous solution
B) Enzyme in the bloodstream
C) Iron solid in the Haber process
D) Base in ethanol
E) Sugar in water
14. A catalyst that is in the same phase as the reactants is called:
A) Heterogeneous catalyst
B) Enzyme
C) Homogeneous catalyst
D) Solid-state catalyst
E) Passive catalyst
15. What type of catalyst is found in catalytic converters in cars?
A) Nickel
B) Copper
C) Zinc
D) Platinum
E) Silver
16. Which of the following best describes how catalysts increase reaction rates?
A) By increasing the temperature of the system
B) By increasing reactant concentration
C) By lowering the activation energy
D) By forming unwanted side products
E) By reducing the number of collisions
17. Which property of enzymes allows them to act as specific catalysts?
A) Large size
B) High solubility
C) Unique active site structure
D) Acidic nature
E) High temperature tolerance
18. Which of the following is true about catalysts in reversible reactions?
A) They only speed up the forward reaction
B) They shift the equilibrium to the products
C) They increase the reaction yield
D) They speed up both forward and reverse reactions equally
E) They make the reaction irreversible
19. Why are catalysts important in industrial chemistry?
A) They increase product cost
B) They decrease the quality of products
C) They improve efficiency and reduce energy requirements
D) They add impurities
E) They are consumed quickly
20. What is the term for a substance that slows down a reaction?
A) Enzyme
B) Substrate
C) Inhibitor
D) Activator
E) Catalyst
- Questions on Collision Theory
- Questions on Potential Energy
- Questions on Activation Energy and Activated Complex
Answer Key with Explanations
1. B – A catalyst speeds up a reaction but is not consumed in the process.
2. B – Catalysts work by lowering the activation energy.
3. C – They offer an alternative pathway with a lower activation energy.
4. C – Enzymes are biological catalysts.
5. C – Catalysts are regenerated at the end of the reaction.
6. D – Catalysts do not alter equilibrium; they just help reach it faster.
7. A – Iron is used as a catalyst in the Haber process.
8. C – Good catalysts are specific and stable under reaction conditions.
9. C – Catalysts increase reaction rates.
10. B – The Contact process uses platinum to make sulfuric acid.
11. C – Enzymes work best in specific pH and temperature ranges.
12. C – Catalysts increase the rate without being consumed.
13. C – Iron in the solid phase catalyzing gaseous reactants is heterogeneous.
14. C – Homogeneous catalysts are in the same phase as the reactants.
15. D – Platinum is used in catalytic converters.
16. C – Catalysts lower activation energy, making reactions faster.
17. C – The active site of enzymes makes them highly specific.
18. D – Catalysts speed up both forward and reverse reactions equally.
19. C – Catalysts help reduce costs and energy in industrial processes.
20. C – A substance that slows a reaction is an inhibitor.
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