CAIE A Level Chemistry 9701 · Reaction kinetics
In a petroleum refinery, long-chain hydrocarbons are cracked into smaller, more useful molecules. The process is carried out over a solid catalyst. Suggest, in terms of activation energy and the Boltzmann distribution, how the catalyst allows this reaction to proceed at a lower temperature than the uncatalysed reaction.
4 marks, so the mark scheme is looking for about 4 separate creditworthy points. Making the same point twice in different words earns it once.
Suggest means: Apply what you know to an unfamiliar situation. There may be more than one acceptable answer. Reason from the principle you have learned to the new context, and say which principle you are using.
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