What is the main role of a catalyst in a chemical reaction?

A catalyst plays a crucial role in chemical reactions by providing an alternative pathway for the reaction to occur, which significantly lowers the activation energy required for the reaction to proceed. This process increases the rate of the reaction, meaning that the reactants are converted into products more quickly. The key aspect of a catalyst is that it is not consumed in the reaction; it can remain unchanged after the reaction is complete and can participate in multiple reaction cycles.

This property of catalysts allows them to be reused, making them vital in many industrial processes where efficiency is critical. By facilitating faster reactions while remaining intact, catalysts help in achieving desired chemical outcomes without altering the overall reaction products. Thus, they play a pivotal role not only in enhancing reaction rates but also in promoting more environmentally friendly and economically viable chemical processes.