Which of the following statements is true about catalysts?

Catalysts are substances that accelerate the rate of a chemical reaction without being consumed in the process. This means they can be utilized repeatedly in multiple reaction cycles, allowing them to facilitate ongoing chemical transformations without undergoing permanent changes themselves. Catalysts work by lowering the activation energy required for a reaction to proceed, thereby increasing the reaction rate.

The other statements highlight misconceptions about catalysts. Some might think that catalysts are consumed, change the products of a reaction, or are always organic; however, catalysts can be inorganic as well, such as metals and metal oxides, exemplifying that they are not limited to organic molecules. This understanding of catalysts is fundamental in fields ranging from biochemistry to industrial chemistry, where their ability to be reused makes them highly valuable.