Which of the following statements is true regarding catalysts?

The correct statement about catalysts is that they lower the activation energy of a reaction. Catalysts are substances that speed up the rate of a chemical reaction without being consumed in the process. They achieve this by offering an alternative reaction pathway that has a lower activation energy compared to the uncatalyzed reaction. This means that more reactant molecules have enough energy to overcome the energy barrier for the reaction, leading to an increase in the rate at which products are formed.

It's important to note that catalysts do not change the equilibrium position of a reaction; they only help the system reach equilibrium more quickly. They also do not get consumed during the reaction, which allows them to continue to facilitate multiple reaction cycles. Therefore, while some statements may contain elements of truth regarding chemical reactions or the behavior of other components, the ability of catalysts to lower activation energy is a fundamental characteristic that defines their role in chemical processes.