Question

What is an enzyme and how does it affect a chemical reaction?

Answer 1

Answer: Enzymes are catalysts which will lower the activation energy of a chemical reaction. Activation energy is the energy needed to get a reaction going. By lowering the amount of energy needed to start a reaction, the reaction can go more quickly.

Answer 2

Enzymes are biological catalysts. Catalysts lower the activation energy for reactions. The lower the activation energy for a reaction, the faster the rate. Thus enzymes speed up reactions by lowering activation energy.