Final answer:
Enzymes are proteins that speed up chemical reactions in the body by lowering the activation energy. They have a specific shape that allows them to bind with a substrate and facilitate a reaction. An example is amylase, which breaks down starch into glucose molecules.
Step-by-step explanation:
Enzymes are proteins that speed up chemical reactions in the body. They do this by lowering the activation energy required for the reaction to occur. Enzymes act as catalysts, meaning they facilitate a reaction without being consumed in the process.
Enzymes have a specific shape that allows them to bind with a substrate, which is the molecule that they act upon. This binding forms an enzyme-substrate complex, where the enzyme can modify the substrate to produce a reaction. The enzyme can then release the product and be reused in another reaction.
For example, the enzyme amylase helps break down starch into glucose molecules. Without amylase, this reaction would proceed very slowly. But by having amylase present, the reaction occurs at a much faster rate, allowing the body to efficiently metabolize starch for energy.
Learn more about enzymes and their effect on reactions