Copper as a catalyst in metal-acid reaction

Steps:

• Reaction: Zn + H₂SO₄ → ZnSO₄ + H₂ gas; copper unchanged, so it catalyzes without being consumed.
• Catalysts speed reactions by providing alternative pathway.
• Test options: A wrong (not biological); B fits (lowers E_a); C opposite (smaller particles faster); D irrelevant (gaseous product but pressure affects gas reactions differently).
• Select B as it matches catalyst definition.

Why B is correct:

• Catalysts lower activation energy, enabling more molecules to react at lower temperatures per collision theory.

Why the others are wrong:

• A: Biological catalysts are enzymes; copper is inorganic.
• C: Larger zinc particles reduce surface area, slowing rate.
• D: Pressure increase affects gas-phase reactions, not this solution-based one.

Final answer: B