The term __ is used to describe the ability of enzymes to initiate and accelerate chemical reactions a. induce b. facilitate c. activate d. catalyze e. react
The correct answer and explanation is:
The correct answer is: d. catalyze
Explanation:
The term “catalyze” is used to describe the ability of enzymes to initiate and accelerate chemical reactions. Enzymes are biological catalysts that speed up chemical reactions without being consumed or permanently altered in the process.
- Catalysis is the process by which a substance (catalyst) increases the rate of a chemical reaction by lowering the activation energy required for the reaction to proceed. Enzymes are highly specific catalysts that facilitate biochemical reactions essential for life.
- When an enzyme catalyzes a reaction, it binds to one or more reactant molecules, called substrates, forming an enzyme-substrate complex. This interaction stabilizes the transition state, reducing the energy barrier for the reaction. As a result, the reaction happens faster and more efficiently compared to uncatalyzed reactions.
- The enzyme is not used up in the reaction; it can catalyze multiple rounds of the reaction, which is why enzymes are effective even at low concentrations.
- The other options have different meanings:
- a. induce means to cause or bring about but does not specifically refer to speeding up reactions.
- b. facilitate means to make easier but is a general term and not specific to enzymes.
- c. activate means to make something active or initiate it, but enzymes do not “activate” the reaction in the biochemical sense as catalysts do.
- e. react means to undergo a chemical change, which is the opposite of what enzymes do—they facilitate reactions but do not themselves react.
Thus, enzymes catalyze chemical reactions, making “catalyze” the most precise and scientifically accurate term to describe this ability.