Question

Adding an inhibitor to a chemical reaction will have which of the following effects on a reaction?

a. the inhibitor will decrease the rate of reaction.
b. the inhibitor will have no effect on the rate of reaction.
c. the inhibitor will initially increase the rate of reaction and then decrease it.
d.  the inhibitor will increase the rate of reaction.

Answer 1

Answer: a. the inhibitor will decrease the rate of reaction.

Explanation: The rate of the reaction is affected by addition of inhibitors which are also called as negative catalysts as they decrease the rate of reaction unlike catalysts which enhance the rate of reaction.

Inhibitors delay, slow or prevent the chemical reactions by binding with the substrate or the catalyst and hence prevent them to function normally.