What is the purpose of a catalyst in a chemical reaction?

increase the amount of chemicals available for the reaction.

increase the temperature of the reaction system.

slow down the reaction so more bonds can form.

lower the activation energy needed for the reaction to occur.

The purpose of a catalyst in a chemical reaction is to lower the activation energy needed for the reaction to occur. This means that the catalyst speeds up the reaction by providing an alternative pathway for the reaction to take place, which requires less energy. This allows the reaction to occur more quickly and with less energy input, making the process more efficient.