The effect of a catalyst on a chemical reaction is to provide a new reaction pathway that results in a different

Activation energy

Explanation:

Catalysts are organic substances that speeds up the rate of a chemical reaction.

Catalysts employs the mechanism of lowering the activation energy of the reaction. The lowered activation energy then makes the particles of the reactants to collide faster which makes the reaction happen fast.

Catalysts provide a new reaction pathway that results in a new and lowered activation energy.