Question

How does a catalyst affect collision theory?

Answer 1

The catalyst does not affect the rate of collision since it does not change the kinetic energy (`KE`) of particles.

Explanation:

A catalyst by definition is a substance which is not a reactant nor a product that increases the rate of the reaction by lowering its activation energy (see graph below).

`color(gray)("Image source")`: http://www.silicones.eu/science-research/adjuvants-and-auxiliaries/catalysts

`color(blue)("uncatalyzed reaction")`
`color(red)("catalyzed reaction")`

Note that the catalyst does not affect the rate of collision since it does not change the kinetic energy (`KE`) of particles.

`KE=3/2RT`

The kinetic energy depends only on temperature, and catalyst does not change the temperature of a reaction.

Chemical Kinetics | A Model for Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis.