Respuesta :
A catalyst speeds up the reaction, but it is never consumed during the reaction (shown in this case by the decrease of Mn mass).
Answer:
The manganese is not functioning as a catalyst.
Explanation:
A substance that can be supplemented to a reaction to enhance the rate of a reaction without getting used up in the process is known as a catalyst. The catalysts generally accelerate the reaction by changing the mechanism of the reaction or by minimizing the activation energy.
Thus, if the manganese is used as a catalyst then its mass would not have been decreased, and it would just continue to change the reaction unless and until it gets consumed. Therefore, manganese is not functioning as a catalyst.