Question

Explain how enzymes lower activation energy in 2 sentences.

Answer 1

Enzymes lower activation energy by stabilizing the transition state and providing an alternative reaction pathway with a smaller energy barrier. Their active sites bind and orient substrates, strain or distort bonds, and use catalytic residues and local electrostatic effects (including proton transfers or transient covalent intermediates) to stabilize charge buildup and transition intermediates so fewer reactant molecules need as much energy to react.