Final answer:
Enzymes lower the activation energy of chemical reactions, facilitating biochemistry by providing an alternate pathway for the reaction and optimally orienting substrates. They are sensitive to temperature and work within specific ranges, but they do not raise the temperature or activation energy, nor do they decrease the rate of reactions.
Step-by-step explanation:
The true statement about enzymes from the options given is that enzymes lower the activation energy of a chemical reaction. Enzymes are biological catalysts that accelerate chemical reactions by reducing the energy barrier, known as activation energy, that must be overcome for the reactions to proceed. They do this by providing an alternate reaction pathway and by binding to reactants, also known as substrates, in a way that facilitates the chemical transformation.
Enzymes are sensitive to temperature, pH, and ionic conditions, and they function optimally within specific ranges of these parameters. Generally, an increase in temperature can increase the rate of a chemical reaction, but if the temperature is too high or too low, it can affect enzyme activity negatively, potentially leading to denaturation and loss of catalytic function. Enzymes do not affect the overall temperature of the reaction, nor do they raise the activation energy or decrease the rate of a chemical reaction. Instead, they increase the rate of reaction by lowering the activation energy needed.