Question

If you add enzyme to a solution containing only the product(s) of a reaction, would you expect any substrate to form?

a. Yes, because the enzyme reduces the standard free energy change for the reaction.
b. No, because the enzyme lowers the transition state energy barrier.
c. No, because product inhibits the enzyme.
d. No, because enzymes catalyze only the forward reaction.
e. Yes, because the reaction proceeds backwards until equilibrium is reached.

Answer 1

Answer:

e

Explanation:

Provided the reaction that leads to the formation of the products can proceed in both forward and backward directions, the correct answer would be yes because the reaction will proceed backward until equilibrium is reached.

For a reaction that can proceed both forward and backward, the addition of a catalyst increases the rate of reaction in both directions based on the fact that a catalyst cannot alter the equilibrium of a reaction.

Hence, if an enzyme is added to the product of a reaction that has the potential to proceed in both forward and reverse reactions, a substrate would be expected to form because the reaction will proceed backward until an equilibrium is reached.

The correct option is e.