Year 10 Science · Unit 2 · Lesson 13

Temperature and Catalysts

Foundation Worksheet

Name

Date

Class

Learning Goals

Define catalyst, enzyme, activation energy, and denaturation.
Distinguish between homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysts with examples.
Sort examples into temperature effect, catalyst effect, both, or neither.

Warm Up

Sort it!

Write each example from the pool into the correct category. Each example belongs to ONE category only.

Adding MnO₂ to H₂O₂ to decompose it faster Heating the H₂O₂ solution speeds decomposition Platinum in catalytic converter converts CO to CO₂ Cooking food at 200°C browns it faster than at 100°C Iron catalyst in the Haber process Raising oven temperature speeds cake baking Adding H₂SO₄ to an esterification reaction Dipping iron in paint to prevent rusting Amylase enzyme in saliva digests starch faster at 37°C than at 10°C Storing explosives in a cool, dry place

Temperature effect only

Catalyst effect only

Both temperature and catalyst

Neither (not a rate factor)

Your Turn

Match each term to its definition

Draw a line connecting each term on the left to its correct definition on the right. Or write the matching letter next to each term.

Term	Your answer	Definition
Enzyme		A. A catalyst in a different physical state from the reactants (e.g. solid platinum catalyst, gaseous reactants).
Catalyst		B. A biological catalyst made of protein that is highly specific to one reaction and works best at a particular temperature and pH.
Activation energy		C. The process by which an enzyme's 3D shape is permanently altered, destroying its function, usually due to high temperature or extreme pH.
Denaturation		D. A substance that speeds up a chemical reaction by providing an alternative pathway with lower activation energy, without being consumed.
Homogeneous catalyst		E. A catalyst in the same physical state as the reactants (e.g. H₂SO₄ dissolved in an esterification reaction mixture).
Heterogeneous catalyst		F. The minimum energy required for colliding particles to react successfully.

Show What You Know

1. Explain why MnO₂ can speed up the decomposition of H₂O₂ without itself being used up. What term describes this role?

Recall 2 marks

2. Body temperature in humans is normally 37°C. Enzymes in our cells work best at this temperature. What would happen to enzyme activity if body temperature rose to 42°C during severe fever? Use the term "denaturation" in your answer.

Recall 2 marks

Wrap Up

In one sentence, what was the main idea of this lesson?