# Explain how adding a catalyst increases the rate of a chemical reaction.

> AQA GCSE Chemistry (8462) — 4.6.1 Rate of reaction · Explain · 4 marks

> A student notices that hydrogen peroxide solution decomposes very slowly at room temperature, but decomposes rapidly when manganese(IV) oxide is added.

## Mark scheme (4 marks)

1. A catalyst provides a different (reaction) pathway
2. The new pathway has a lower activation energy
3. A greater proportion of particles have energy equal to or greater than the (lower) activation energy
4. The catalyst is not used up / is unchanged at the end of the reaction

## Key terms

- [catalyst](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/glossary/catalyst)

## Related

- [Revision notes for AQA GCSE Chemistry (8462)](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/learn)
- [How to answer "Explain" questions](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/tools/command-word-cheatsheet)
- [Practice this with AI marking (free)](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/start)

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Source: [GradeNine](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/q/explain-how-adding-a-catalyst-increases-12059653) · Published by Druglandscape Ltd.