Suppose that you worked at the U.S. Patent Office and a patent application came

Question

Suppose that you worked at the U.S. Patent Office and a patent application came across your desk claiming that a newly devel­oped catalyst was much superior to the Haber catalyst for ammo­nia synthesis because the catalyst led to much greater equilibrium conversion of N2 and H2 into NH3 than the Haber catalyst under the same conditions. What would be your response?

The patent claim is true because a catalyst alters the position of equilibrium in a system.

The patent claim is false because a catalyst does not alter the position of equilibrium in a system.

The patent claim is true because a catalyst alters the position of equilibrium in a system.

The patent claim is false because a catalyst alters the rate of approach to the position of equilibrium in a system.

The patent claim is true because a catalyst alters the rate of approach to the position of equilibrium in a system.

The patent claim is true because a catalyst alters the position of equilibrium in a system.

Explanation / Answer

The patent claim is false because a catalyst does not alter the position of equilibrium in a system. The catalyts alters the activation energy of a reaction by letting the reaction proceed through an alternative path.

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