Join thousands of students who trust us to help them ace their exams!Watch the first video
Multiple Choice
Which of the following statements about enzymes is correct?
A
Enzymes lower the activation energy of chemical reactions without being consumed.
B
Enzymes are consumed in chemical reactions and must therefore be replenished.
C
Enzymes are only effective at very high temperatures.
D
Enzymes increase the equilibrium constant of a reaction.
Verified step by step guidance
1
Understand the role of enzymes in biochemical reactions: Enzymes are biological catalysts that speed up chemical reactions by lowering the activation energy required for the reaction to proceed.
Clarify the concept of activation energy: Activation energy is the minimum energy required for reactants to transform into products. Enzymes achieve this by stabilizing the transition state, making it easier for the reaction to occur.
Address the statement 'Enzymes lower the activation energy of chemical reactions without being consumed': This is correct because enzymes are not consumed or permanently altered during the reaction. They can be reused multiple times.
Evaluate the statement 'Enzymes are consumed in chemical reactions and must therefore be replenished': This is incorrect because enzymes remain unchanged after the reaction and do not need to be replenished.
Analyze the remaining statements: 'Enzymes are only effective at very high temperatures' is incorrect because enzymes typically function optimally at specific temperatures, often close to physiological conditions. 'Enzymes increase the equilibrium constant of a reaction' is also incorrect because enzymes do not alter the equilibrium constant; they only speed up the rate at which equilibrium is reached.