What is the effect of an enzyme on the energy of a chemical reaction?

Question

Responses

Enzymes speed up the reaction by lowering the activation energy of the reaction.
Enzymes speed up the reaction by lowering the activation energy of the reaction.

Enzymes slow down the reaction by raising the activation energy of the reaction.
Enzymes slow down the reaction by raising the activation energy of the reaction.

Enzymes decrease the free energy of the reactants.
Enzymes decrease the free energy of the reactants.

Enzymes increase the free energy of the products.

Answer 1

The correct response is:

Enzymes speed up the reaction by lowering the activation energy of the reaction.

Enzymes are biological catalysts that facilitate chemical reactions by reducing the energy barrier (activation energy) needed for the reaction to occur, thus increasing the rate of the reaction without being consumed in the process. The other statements are not accurate in describing the role of enzymes in chemical reactions.