Chemistry

Question

How do enzymes speed up chemical

reactions?

A. Enzymes eliminate the need for activation energy.

B. Enzymes provide a site where activation energy is

greatly reduced.

C. Enzymes do not speed up chemical reactions.

Answer

B. Enzymes provide a site where activation energy is greatly reduced.

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Enzymes are biological catalysts that speed up chemical reactions by lowering the activation energy required for the reaction to occur. They do this by providing a site where the reactants can come together in a way that reduces the energy required for the reaction to proceed. This site is called the active site, and it is specific to the enzyme and the reaction it catalyzes. Once the reactants bind to the active site, the enzyme can facilitate the reaction by stabilizing the transition state, which is the high-energy intermediate that forms during the reaction. By lowering the activation energy, enzymes increase the rate of the reaction without being consumed in the process.