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Multiple Choice
How do enzymes in the body speed up chemical reactions?
A
By increasing the temperature of the reaction
B
By lowering the activation energy required for the reaction
C
By providing additional reactants for the reaction
D
By changing the pH of the reaction environment
Verified step by step guidance
1
Understand that enzymes are biological catalysts that speed up chemical reactions without being consumed in the process.
Recognize that enzymes work by lowering the activation energy of a reaction, which is the energy barrier that must be overcome for a reaction to proceed.
Visualize the concept of activation energy as a hill that reactants must climb over to become products. Enzymes effectively lower the height of this hill, making it easier for the reaction to occur.
Note that enzymes achieve this by stabilizing the transition state of the reaction, which is an intermediate state that reactants pass through as they are converted into products.
Remember that enzymes do not change the overall energy balance of the reaction or provide additional reactants; they simply make it easier for the reaction to occur by lowering the activation energy.