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How does the addition of a catalyst affect the reaction rate of the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide, and how can this be measured experimentally using a gas collection method?

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The addition of a catalyst to the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide increases the reaction rate by providing an alternative reaction pathway with a lower activation energy. This allows more reactant molecules to have sufficient energy to react, leading to an increased rate of product formation.To measure the effect of a catalyst on the reaction rate experimentally using a gas collection method, you can follow these steps:1. Prepare two identical solutions of hydrogen peroxide with known concentrations in separate beakers or flasks. 2. Choose a suitable catalyst for the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide, such as manganese dioxide  MnO2 , potassium iodide  KI , or catalase  an enzyme found in many living organisms .3. Set up a gas collection apparatus, which typically consists of an inverted graduated cylinder or burette filled with water and placed over a water-filled trough. Connect the gas collection apparatus to the reaction vessel  beaker or flask  using a rubber stopper and a delivery tube.4. Perform the experiment in two parts: one without the catalyst and one with the catalyst. For each part, follow these steps:  a. Start a timer and simultaneously add the catalyst  or an equal volume of distilled water for the control experiment  to the hydrogen peroxide solution. Quickly seal the reaction vessel with the rubber stopper connected to the gas collection apparatus.  b. As the hydrogen peroxide decomposes, it will produce oxygen gas  O2 , which will displace the water in the gas collection apparatus. Record the volume of oxygen gas collected at regular time intervals  e.g., every 30 seconds  until the reaction is complete or reaches a predetermined time.5. Plot the volume of oxygen gas collected against time for both experiments  with and without the catalyst . The steeper slope in the graph with the catalyst indicates a faster reaction rate.6. Compare the reaction rates by calculating the initial rates of the reactions. This can be done by finding the slope of the tangent to the curve at the beginning of the reaction  t = 0  for both experiments. The higher initial rate for the experiment with the catalyst demonstrates the catalyst's effect on increasing the reaction rate.By comparing the results of the two experiments, you can determine the effect of the catalyst on the reaction rate of the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide.
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