How does a catalyst affect the position of equilibrium in a chemical reaction?

A catalyst facilitates a chemical reaction by providing an alternative pathway with a lower activation energy, which speeds up both the forward and reverse reactions equally. This means that while a catalyst increases the rate at which equilibrium is reached, it does not alter the concentrations of reactants and products at equilibrium.

Since a catalyst affects the speed of both reactions equally, it does not favor either the forward or reverse direction, and thus, it does not change the position of equilibrium. Therefore, the correct understanding is that a catalyst has no effect on the equilibrium position itself.