Final answer:
The enzyme catalase converts hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) into water (H₂O) and oxygen (O₂), not hypochlorous acid (HOCl). This is an enzymatic reaction that helps to protect cells from oxidative damage. The conversion to HOCl described is a chemical reaction and not typically an enzyme-catalyzed process in biology.
Step-by-step explanation:
The enzyme that converts hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) into water (H₂O) and oxygen (O₂) is known as catalase.
According to the provided chemical reaction (3) 2H₂O2 → 2H₂O + O₂, catalase facilitates the breakdown of hydrogen peroxide, a harmful byproduct of cellular processes, into harmless water and oxygen, thereby preventing potential damage to cells.
However, the question asks for an enzyme that converts H₂O₂ into hypochlorous acid (HOCl), which is not a typical reaction for catalase or any well-known biological enzyme.
The formation of HOCl typically occurs through a reaction involving chlorine, as shown by Cl₂ (aq) + 2H₂O(l) →→→ HOCl(aq) + H3O+ (aq) + Cl⁻ (aq), which is a chemical disproportionation reaction and not enzyme-catalyzed.