Question

Question 12

How does an enzyme work to catalyze a reaction?

-It lowers the activation energy of a reaction.

-It raises the temperature of a reaction.

-It supplies the energy to speed up a reaction.

-It increases the concentration of the reactants in a reaction.

-It allows the reaction to proceed through different intermediates.

Answer 1

Option 1 is the correct answer.

An enzyme lowers the activation energy, i.e., the amount of energy required for the reaction to occur so that more number of molecules can cross the energy barrier to be converted to product. They do so by binding to substrate in such a way that it lowers the activation energy. Enzymes do not change the thermodynamic properties of reaction and are neither consumed nor destroyed in the reaction. They have no effect on the reaction equilibrium or reaction intermediates.