A catalyst lowers the forward activation energy of a reversible reaction by 30 kJ/mol. How does this affect the activation energy of the reverse reaction?

Core Concept

A catalyst opens a single alternative pathway with new intermediates and new transition states, and that same pathway serves both directions. Because the catalyzed route lowers the barrier connecting any two states viewed from either side, forward and reverse activation energies drop by the same amount. The equilibrium composition and K remain untouched. Only the time needed to reach equilibrium shrinks.