Concept:A catalyst speeds up a chemical reaction without altering the thermodynamics or being consumed in the process.
Solution:- Chemical reactions require an initial burst of energy to destabilize current bonds so new ones can form (the transition state).
- Enzymes function entirely by providing an alternative reaction pathway that requires much less initial energy.
- By lowering the activation energy, a significantly larger fraction of molecules have enough energy to react, vastly accelerating the conversion of substrates into products.
Why other options are incorrect:Enzymes NEVER change the chemical equilibrium; they only reach it faster. Increasing activation energy would slow the reaction down. Enzymes cannot magically conjure or increase substrate concentration.
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