Enzymes are _________ that will ________ rate of a chemical reaction.
*
1 point
carbohydrates, increase
carbohydrates, decrease
proteins, increase
proteins, decrease
proteins, increase
Enzymes are proteins that will increase the rate of a chemical reaction.
Enzymes are proteins that will increase the rate of a chemical reaction.
To understand why, let's break it down:
Enzymes are biological molecules, specifically proteins, that act as catalysts in chemical reactions. They are made up of long chains of amino acids that are folded into complex three-dimensional shapes.
Now, how do enzymes increase the rate of a chemical reaction?
Enzymes work by lowering the activation energy required for a reaction to occur. Activation energy is the energy needed to initiate a chemical reaction. By reducing this energy barrier, enzymes make it easier for reactant molecules to undergo the necessary changes and form the products.
Enzymes achieve this by binding to the reactant molecules, called substrates, and holding them in a way that promotes the formation of the desired products. This binding occurs at a specific region on the enzyme called the active site. The structure of the active site matches the shape and chemical properties of the substrate molecules, allowing them to fit together like a lock and key.
Once the substrate is bound to the enzyme, the enzyme catalyzes the conversion of the substrate into products. This can involve various mechanisms like breaking and forming chemical bonds or rearranging atoms within the substrate molecule.
Overall, enzymes play a vital role in biological processes by increasing the rate of chemical reactions, allowing them to occur efficiently in living organisms.