Question

Why are enzymes required?

(a) Enzymes help to yield more product

(b) Enzymes increase the activation energy of the reaction

(c) Enzymes decrease the activation energy of the reaction

(d) Enzymes maintain the equilibrium in the reaction

The question was asked in quiz.

This key question is from Enzymes as Biological Catalysts in chapter Bioenergetics, Enzymes, Metabolism, Genes, Chromosomes and Genomes of Cell Biology

Answer 1

The correct choice is (c) Enzymes decrease the activation energy of the reaction

The best I can explain: Chemical reactions need certain covalent bond breakage within the reactants. For this, the reactants must contain sufficient kinetic energy called the activation energy. Enzymes act as catalysts that speed up the reaction by lowering the activation energy required for breaking the covalent bonds.