A student claims that adding a catalyst to an exothermic reaction will decrease both the activation energy and the magnitude of ΔE. Which statement most accurately evaluates the student’s claim?
a) A catalyst affects only endothermic reactions, so for this exothermic reaction neither activation energy nor ΔE would change; the student's claim is therefore wrong.
b) The claim is completely correct because a catalyst lowers both the activation energy and the magnitude of ΔE.
c) The claim is partially correct; a catalyst lowers activation energy but does not change ΔE.},{
d) The claim is incorrect; a catalyst lowers ΔE but leaves the activation energy unchanged.