Enzymes increase reaction rate by
A) lowering the activation energy of a reaction.
B) increasing the free energy in the products.
C) raising the activation energy of a reaction.
D) converting an endergonic reaction to an exergonic reaction.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Enzymes lower the activation energy of a reaction by interacting with the reactants and forming an enzyme-substrate complex, which stabilizes the transition state and facilitates the conversion of substrate to product. This reduces the energy required for the reaction to proceed, thereby increasing the reaction rate. Option B is incorrect because enzymes do not directly affect the free energy of products, and option C is incorrect because raising the activation energy would slow down the reaction. Option D is also incorrect because enzymes cannot change the thermodynamics of a reaction, but only catalyze reactions that occur spontaneously.

Enzymes Increase Reaction Rate by