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3 (a) Catalytic converters in the exhaust systems of cars contain catalysts - Edexcel - GCSE Chemistry - Question 3 - 2015 - Paper 1
Question 3
3 (a) Catalytic converters in the exhaust systems of cars contain catalysts. (i) Explain what is meant by the term catalyst. (ii) This reaction takes place in a c... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:3 (a) Catalytic converters in the exhaust systems of cars contain catalysts - Edexcel - GCSE Chemistry - Question 3 - 2015 - Paper 1
Step 1
Explain what is meant by the term catalyst.
Answer
A catalyst is a substance that increases the rate of a chemical reaction without undergoing any permanent chemical change itself. It enables the reaction to occur more quickly by lowering the activation energy required for the reaction to proceed.
Step 2
On the axes below, draw labelled lines to show the relative energies of the reactants and products in this reaction.
Answer
To represent this reaction graphically, draw a horizontal line for the reactants (carbon monoxide and oxygen) at a certain energy level. Then, draw another horizontal line for the products (carbon dioxide) at a lower energy level. This illustrates the exothermic nature of the reaction, where energy is released as the products have lower energy than the reactants.