Catalysts change the rate of chemical reactions but are not used up during the reaction. Different reactions need different catalysts. Enzymes act as catalysts in biological systems. Catalysts increase the rate of reaction by providing a different pathway for the reaction that has a lower activation energy. A reaction profile for a catalysed reaction can be drawn in the following form: Students should be able to identify catalysts in reactions from their effect on the rate of reaction and because they are not included in the chemical equation for the reaction. Students should be able to explain catalytic action in terms of activation energy. Students do not need to know the names of catalysts other than those specified in the subject content.