Question

multiple choice question

although they do not create reactions, enzymes are indispensable for life because they:

can speed up the rate of an uncatalyzed reaction by up to 100 trillion fold.
cause new products to form from existing cellular reactions.
raise the activation energy of a spontaneous reaction by up to 100 trillion fold.

Explanation:

Analyze the function of enzymes as biological catalysts

$$ \text{Enzymes} ightarrow \text{Lower } E_a ightarrow \text{Increase reaction rate} $$

Evaluate the given options

• Option 1: Correctly states that enzymes speed up the rate of uncatalyzed reactions significantly.
• Option 2: Incorrect because enzymes do not change the products of a reaction, only the rate.
• Option 3: Incorrect because enzymes lower, rather than raise, the activation energy.

Answer:

• can speed up the rate of an uncatalyzed reaction by up to 100 trillion fold. (Correct answer)
• cause new products to form from existing cellular reactions.
• raise the activation energy of a spontaneous reaction by up to 100 trillion fold.