Question

What is the effect of an enzyme on the energy of a chemical reaction?

A. Enzymes increase the free energy of the products.

B. Enzymes decrease the free energy of the reactants.

C. Enzymes decrease the difference in energy between products and reactants.

D. Enzymes decrease the activation energy of the reaction

Answer 1

Enzymes (and other catalysts) act by reducing the activation energy, thereby increasing the rate of reaction. The increased rate is the same in both the forward and reverse directions, since both must pass through the same transition state.