What role do catalysts play in a chemical reaction?

Catalysts play a significant role in chemical reactions by increasing the rate of the reaction without being consumed in the process. They achieve this by providing an alternative pathway for the reaction that has a lower activation energy compared to the uncatalyzed reaction. This allows more reactant molecules to have sufficient energy to undergo the reaction at a given temperature, effectively speeding it up.

The role of catalysts is crucial in both industrial and biological processes, where they can enhance the efficiency of reactions, allowing for faster production and reduced energy requirements. The fact that they remain unchanged after the reaction means they can be used repeatedly, further adding to their utility in various applications.