Activation in catalysis is described as

Activation in catalysis is described as

• A. Increases energy of the reactants
• B. Weakens bonds in the reactants, making them more reactive
• C. Desorbs products from the surface
• D. Changes the catalyst into a different element

Answer: (B)

Activation in catalysis means the catalyst provides an alternative reaction pathway with a lower energy barrier, so the reactants become more reactive and can transform into products more easily. In many cases, this happens because the catalyst weakens certain bonds in the reactant molecules or stabilizes the transition state, effectively lowering the activation energy required for the reaction to proceed. That idea is captured by saying activation weakens bonds in the reactants, making them more reactive. The other statements don’t describe what activation does: it isn’t about raising the energy of the reactants, it isn’t specifically about removing products from a surface, and it isn’t about converting the catalyst into a different element.

Activation in catalysis means the catalyst provides an alternative reaction pathway with a lower energy barrier, so the reactants become more reactive and can transform into products more easily. In many cases, this happens because the catalyst weakens certain bonds in the reactant molecules or stabilizes the transition state, effectively lowering the activation energy required for the reaction to proceed. That idea is captured by saying activation weakens bonds in the reactants, making them more reactive. The other statements don’t describe what activation does: it isn’t about raising the energy of the reactants, it isn’t specifically about removing products from a surface, and it isn’t about converting the catalyst into a different element.