This is a question regarding how enzymes increase the rates of reactions. There are choices and the instructions is to check all that apply.
<span>1. They shift the reaction equilibrium towards the products. </span>
<span>2. They increase the concentration of the reactants. </span>
<span>3. They lower the activation energy of the reaction. </span>
<span>4. They decrease the free energy of a reaction. </span>
<span>5. They promote the formation of a transition state.
The correct answers in this question are "they lower the activation energy of the reaction" and "they promote the formation of a transition state". Enzymes do not necessarily shift the the reaction equilibrium to the products, as there are reversible enzymatic reactions that can reverse the pathway back to the substrates. They do not increase the concentration of the reactants as the concentration of the reactants is an independent variable in this process. They do not decrease the free energy of activation as this is a constant in every reaction depending on the substrates and the products.
Enzymes do, however, lower the activation energy of the reaction meaning it will take less energy and effort for the substrates to reach the activation energy to transform it to its transition state then to the products. With this said, enzymes promote the formation of a transition state.
Attached is a simplified image on how enzymes work. </span>
<span>1. They shift the reaction equilibrium towards the products. </span>
<span>2. They increase the concentration of the reactants. </span>
<span>3. They lower the activation energy of the reaction. </span>
<span>4. They decrease the free energy of a reaction. </span>
<span>5. They promote the formation of a transition state.
The correct answers in this question are "they lower the activation energy of the reaction" and "they promote the formation of a transition state". Enzymes do not necessarily shift the the reaction equilibrium to the products, as there are reversible enzymatic reactions that can reverse the pathway back to the substrates. They do not increase the concentration of the reactants as the concentration of the reactants is an independent variable in this process. They do not decrease the free energy of activation as this is a constant in every reaction depending on the substrates and the products.
Enzymes do, however, lower the activation energy of the reaction meaning it will take less energy and effort for the substrates to reach the activation energy to transform it to its transition state then to the products. With this said, enzymes promote the formation of a transition state.
Attached is a simplified image on how enzymes work. </span>