A biochemist is attempting to replicate a chemical reaction that commonly takes place in cells.
During the chemical reaction, starch is broken down into glucose.
What will most likely happen if the biochemist adds more of the same enzyme that is normally
present during this reaction?
A. The reaction will stop.
B. The reaction will take place at a higher temperature.
C. The reaction will speed up.
D. The reaction will slow down.
To determine the most likely outcome if the biochemist adds more of the same enzyme, one must understand the role of enzymes in chemical reactions.
Enzymes are catalysts that facilitate chemical reactions by lowering the activation energy required for the reaction to occur. They do not get consumed in the reaction and can be reused multiple times.
In this case, the enzyme is involved in breaking down starch into glucose. Adding more of the same enzyme would increase the concentration of the catalyst in the reaction mixture. As a result, the most likely outcome is that the reaction will speed up (Option C).
The increased concentration of the enzyme means that there are more catalysts available to effectively bind to and break down the starch molecules, leading to a faster rate of starch conversion into glucose.
Therefore, the answer is C. The reaction will speed up.