HOSA Dental Terminology Practice

What is the role of a catalyst in a chemical reaction?

1. To make products last longer

2. To induce an increased rate of reaction without being changed

3. To slow down the reaction

4. To create new chemicals

The correct answer is: To induce an increased rate of reaction without being changed

A catalyst plays a crucial role in a chemical reaction by facilitating the process without being consumed in the reaction itself. This means that a catalyst lowers the activation energy required for the reaction to occur, which increases the reaction rate. Since it is not permanently altered, the catalyst can participate in multiple reaction cycles, making it an efficient agent to speed up processes like chemical transformations in both industrial applications and biological systems. In contrast, the other options do not accurately describe the function of a catalyst. Making products last longer relates to stability or preservation, which does not pertain to the catalytic function. Slowing down a reaction suggests the opposite of a catalyst's purpose, while creating new chemicals is a characteristic of chemical reactions in general but does not specifically pertain to the role of a catalyst.