Final answer:
Some hormones can act rapidly due to longer half-life, binding to specific receptors, and enhancing enzyme synthesis.
Step-by-step explanation:
Hormones can act rapidly due to several mechanisms.
Firstly, lipid-derived hormones such as cortisol have a longer half-life than amino acid-derived hormones like epinephrine, allowing them to remain active in the bloodstream for a longer period. Secondly, some hormones can bind to specific receptors on the cell membrane, initiating a signaling pathway that triggers intracellular activity and leads to a rapid cellular response.
Thirdly, certain hormones can enhance enzyme synthesis, speeding up cell reactions. Overall, these mechanisms enable some hormones to act quickly on their target cells.