An enzyme is a special kind of catalyst. How does it work?

Question

a
It speeds specific chemical reactions.
b
It breaks down and takes part in chemical reactions to form new products.
c
It slows down specific chemical reactions.
d
It triggers chemical reactions at any pH or temperature.

Answer 1

The correct answer is:

a It speeds specific chemical reactions.

Enzymes are biological catalysts that increase the rate of specific chemical reactions by lowering the activation energy required for those reactions to occur. They do not break down, take part in the reaction, or work under any conditions; instead, they are highly specific to their substrates and typically function optimally at particular pH levels and temperatures.