The hydrolysis of sucrose to glucose and fructose is a spontaneous reaction inside our bodies. However, if you dissolve sucrose in water and keep the solution overnight at room temperature, there is no detectable conversion to glucose and fructose. Why not?
A) The reaction is endergonic.
B) The reaction requires a catalyst.
C) The energy of the products is higher than that of the energy of the reactants.
D) The activation energy of the reaction decreases.
E) The reaction is at equilibrium.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The hydrolysis of sucrose to glucose and fructose is a spontaneous reaction that requires a catalyst (enzyme) to proceed at a noticeable rate under physiological conditions. In the human body, the enzyme sucrase acts as the catalyst to facilitate this reaction. Without the presence of a catalyst, the reaction occurs very slowly, which is why there is no detectable conversion when sucrose is simply dissolved in water and left overnight at room temperature.

The Hydrolysis of Sucrose to Glucose and Fructose Is a Spontaneous