Another name for inhibitor is __________.

• A. Negative catalyst
• B. Catalyst
• C. Inhibitor
• D. Promoter

Answer: (A)

Inhibition slows a chemical reaction. In kinetics, an inhibitor is described as a negative catalyst because it has the opposite effect of a catalyst: it reduces the reaction rate rather than increasing it. Inhibitors work by blocking active sites, binding reactants, or altering the pathway so fewer effective collisions lead to product.

So the best choice uses the terminology that conveys this opposite effect to catalysis. A catalyst speeds up the reaction, a promoter typically enhances rate, and repeating the word “inhibitor” doesn’t capture the opposing action—whereas “negative catalyst” directly describes something that decreases the rate.