Question

When an enzyme lowers the activation energy of a reaction, what happens?

Answer 1

Answer:

Enzymes are added to a chemical reaction to lower the activation energy. What is an enzyme classified as?

a catalyst

Explanation:

Enzymes are catalysts, so they affect activation energy by decreasing the required amount of activation energy allowing chemical reactions to occur or speed up.

Answer 2

When an enzyme lowers the activation energy of the reaction following takes place:

• The activation energy of the chemical compounds is the smallest amount of energy needed to get atoms or molecules to a state where they can cause chemical alteration or induce a chemical change to form products.
• Enzyme is a protein-based substance that serves as a catalyst and initiates chemical reactions between a large number of molecules.
• To make products, reactants must collide with one other and establish chemical bonds.
• However, they must have a specific amount of kinetic energy to travel towards the other reactant for the collision to occur.
• The enzyme causes a transformation (structural, or chemical) in the reactant that is required to make it active for collision and then a chemical reaction.
• This process reduces the activation energy of the reactant and initiates the chemical reaction.