Question

What ways do enzymatic catalysts increase the rates of reactions? they shift the reaction equilibrium toward the products they decrease the free energy of the reaction?

Answer 1

This is a question regarding how enzymes increase the rates of reactions. There are choices and the instructions is to check all that apply.

1. They shift the reaction equilibrium towards the products. 
2. They increase the concentration of the reactants. 
3. They lower the activation energy of the reaction. 
4. They decrease the free energy of a reaction. 
5. They promote the formation of a transition state. 

The correct answers in this question are "they lower the activation energy of the reaction" and "they promote the formation of a transition state". Enzymes do not necessarily shift the the reaction equilibrium to the products, as there are reversible enzymatic reactions that can reverse the pathway back to the substrates. They do not increase the concentration of the reactants as the concentration of the reactants is an independent variable in this process. They do not decrease the free energy of activation as this is a constant in every reaction depending on the substrates and the products. 

Enzymes do, however, lower the activation energy of the reaction meaning it will take less energy and effort for the substrates to reach the activation energy to transform it to its transition state then to the products. With this said, enzymes promote the formation of a transition state.

Attached is a simplified image on how enzymes work. 

Answer 2

Enzymatic catalysts increase the rates of reactions by lowering the activation energy of the reaction.

Further Explanation:

A molecule that helps in increasing the speed of chemical reaction without being a reactant is referred to as catalyst. In a biochemical reaction, enzymes act as a catalyst. Enzymes are generally proteins, although some of the ribonucleic acid molecules also act as enzymes.

Enzymes play a crucial role in decreasing the activation energy of a reaction. The activation energy is referred to as an amount of energy necessary to start the reaction. Enzymes work by the binding of reactant molecules to the substrate .and grip them in such manner that the chemical bond-forming and bond-breaking processes occur more readily. The enzymes mainly do not affect the ΔG value. They don’t affect the energy-absorbing or releasing energy. The reason is that they don’t change the free energy of a reactant or product. The enzyme also breaks down the larger molecule into smaller molecules that can easily be absorbed by the body.

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Answer Details:

Grade: High School

Subject: Biology

Chapter: Chemical kinetics

Keywords:

Reactant, product, enzyme, bond, activation energy, bond-breaking, transition state, reaction, catalyst, biochemical reaction, proteins.