Question

Which best describes how the enzyme carbonic anhydrase helps to form carbonic acid from carbon dioxide and water?

A.The enzyme binds the substrates together so they can react.
B. The enzyme breaks apart so that the substrates are more likely to react.
C.The enzyme strengthens the chemical bonds in both the water and the carbon dioxide.
D.The enzyme increases the energy needed for the substrates to react.

Answer 1

Carbonic anhydrase speeds up the reaction of carbon dioxide and water to form carbonic acid by binding the substrates optimally and lowering the activation energy required for the reaction.

Step-by-step explanation:

The enzyme carbonic anhydrase facilitates the formation of carbonic acid from carbon dioxide and water by acting as a biological catalyst. This enzyme accelerates the reaction by binding the substrates together in an optimal orientation, thereby lowering the activation energy required for the reaction to proceed. The enzyme forms an enzyme-substrate complex, creating an optimal environment within the active site that promotes the rapid conversion of carbon dioxide and water into carbonic acid. Carbonic anhydrase possesses a Zn²+ ion within its active site, which plays a crucial role in catalyzing the reaction. It binds to carbon dioxide and water, facilitating a rapid reaction to form bicarbonate ions which then dissociate, speeding up the process vastly compared to the rate of the uncatalyzed reaction.