Enzymes, like chemical catalysts, lower activation energy for reactions. For instance, while acid hydrolysis of sucrose has an activation energy of 6.22 kJ mol⁻¹, sucrase, an enzyme, reduces it to 2.15 kJ mol⁻¹, demonstrating the efficiency of enzyme action.
Explain the significance of enzymes in reducing activation energy, providing an example.
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Enzymes play a vital role in reducing the activation energy required for chemical reactions, facilitating faster reaction rates. By providing an alternative pathway and stabilizing the transition state, enzymes accelerate reactions, making them more efficient. For example, catalase, an enzyme found in cells, speeds up the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide into water and oxygen. Without catalase, this reaction would occur slowly at physiological conditions. The enzyme lowers the activation energy barrier, allowing the reaction to proceed more rapidly, demonstrating the crucial role of enzymes in overcoming energy barriers and ensuring timely and controlled biochemical processes in living organisms.