Which of the following statements about catalysts is true?

Catalysts play a crucial role in chemical reactions by providing an alternative pathway for the reaction to occur. This alternative pathway has a lower activation energy compared to the reaction mechanism without the catalyst. By lowering the activation energy, catalysts enable more molecules to possess sufficient energy to collide effectively and react, thus increasing the rate of the reaction.

This property of catalysts is essential in many industrial processes and laboratory settings, where controlling the rate of a reaction can lead to more efficient production and better yields. Unlike the other options, which describe incorrect characteristics of catalysts, the idea that they provide an alternative pathway with lower activation energy accurately reflects their function within chemical reactions.

Moreover, catalysts are not consumed in the reaction, meaning they can be used repeatedly. This distinguishes them from reactants, which are transformed into products. Therefore, the correct understanding of a catalyst is key to leveraging its advantages in various chemical applications.