Question

What do enzymes do to activation energy, reaction rates, and free energy change in a chemical reaction?

A) Increase; decrease; reverse
B) Decrease; increase; enhance
C) Increase; increase; reduce
D) Decrease; decrease; amplify

Answer 1

Enzymes reduce the activation energy and increase reaction rates without changing the reaction's free energy change.

Step-by-step explanation:

Enzymes play a crucial role in biochemical reactions by affecting the activation energy, reaction rates, and free energy change. The correct answer to what enzymes do to activation energy, reaction rates, and free energy change in a chemical reaction is B) Decrease; Increase; no change. Enzymes work by reducing the activation energy needed for a reaction, thereby increasing the reaction rate. However, enzymes do not alter the free energy change (ΔG) of the reaction, meaning they don't change whether a reaction is exergonic (spontaneous) or endergonic (requires energy).

Answer 2

Enzymes decrease activation energy, increase reaction rates, and enhance free energy change in a chemical reaction.

Step-by-step explanation:

Enzymes decrease the activation energy required for a chemical reaction to occur. They do this by binding to the reactant molecules and holding them in such a way that the bond-breaking and bond-forming processes happen more easily. Enzymes do not change the free energy change in a reaction, but they reduce the activation energy needed to reach the transition state. Therefore, the correct answer is B) Decrease; increase; enhance.