---
title: "The potential energy profile for the decomposition reaction \\(2\\,\\text{N}_2\\text{O}(g) \\rightarrow 2\\,\\text{N}_2(g) + \\text{O}_2(g)\\) is shown in the graph, representing both an uncatalyzed pathway and a catalyzed pathway.  Based on the graph, which of the following statements best explains the effect of the catalyst on the reaction?"
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url: "https://nerd-notes.com/ubq/121528/"
date_modified: "2026-08-23T05:05:04+00:00"
---

# The potential energy profile for the decomposition reaction \(2\,\text{N}_2\text{O}(g) \rightarrow 2\,\text{N}_2(g) + \text{O}_2(g)\) is shown in the graph, representing both an uncatalyzed pathway and a catalyzed pathway.

Based on the graph, which of the following statements best explains the effect of the catalyst on the reaction?

The potential energy profile for the decomposition reaction \(2\,\text{N}_2\text{O}(g) \rightarrow 2\,\text{N}_2(g) + \text{O}_2(g)\) is shown in the graph, representing both an uncatalyzed pathway and a catalyzed pathway.

Based on the graph, which of the following statements best explains the effect of the catalyst on the reaction?

![A 2D line graph with bare perpendicular axes. The vertical axis is labeled Potential Energy (\(\text{kJ/mol}\)) and the horizontal axis is labeled Reaction Progress. No numerical gridlines appear. The graph displays two curves starting at the exact same reactant energy level on the left and ending at the exact same lower product energy level on the right. Curve 1 is drawn as a solid black line representing the uncatalyzed pathway; it rises smoothly from the reactant level to a single high potential energy peak before descending to the products. Curve 2 is drawn as a dashed black line representing the catalyzed pathway; it branches from the same reactant level, passes through a first lower peak, dips into a shallow intermediate energy valley, rises to a second peak that is also lower than the solid line peak, and terminates at the same product level. A box in the upper right quadrant provides the legend: solid line = Uncatalyzed, dashed line = Catalyzed. No other curves, gridlines, labels, or annotations appear.](https://nerd-notes.com/wp-content/uploads/ubq-frq-generated/stem-fig-1-1787461503-0DRY1i.jpg)

- **A.** The catalyst decreases the activation energy by providing an alternative mechanism with lower-energy transition states, while \(\Delta H^\circ\) of the reaction remains unchanged.
- **B.** The catalyst decreases the activation energy and makes \(\Delta H^\circ\) of the reaction more negative by lowering the potential energy of the products.
- **C.** The catalyst increases the average kinetic energy of the reactant molecules so that a greater fraction of collisions exceed the activation energy, leaving the mechanism unchanged.
- **D.** The catalyst increases the frequency of collisions between reactant molecules without altering the activation energy or the enthalpy of reaction.

*The answer key and step-by-step explanation are available to logged-in users at https://nerd-notes.com/ubq/121528/*