Question

The two graphs shown here represent a reaction that proceeds without an enzyme (left) and with an enzyme (right).

Answer 1

Enzymes catalyze natural chemical reactions, using less energy. So the most likely role of enzymes in a chemical reaction is to reduce the amount of activation energy required for the reaction to proceed. Option C.

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Let us first describe and analyze the graphs

• The X axis represents the rate of reaction
• The Y axis represents energy
• Reactants and products are the same in both cases
• The main difference between both graphs seems to be in the use of energy.
• Reactions without an enzyme (left) show a higher level of energy than reactions with enzymes (right).

Now, we need to interprete these graphs. And to do so, let us review some framework.

Enzymes are catalytic intracellular molecules or polypeptides that accelerate different natural chemical reactions.

Enzymes have specific binding sites to substrate molecules and turn them into product molecules.  They are in charge of catalyzing cell metabolism.

When talking about catalysis, we refer to an acceleration process. Natural reactions occur with or without the enzyme, but

→ in the absence of enzyme, the reaction

• occurs slowlier
• needs more activation energy to happen

→ in the presence of enzyme, the reaction

• is accelerated,
• requieres less activation energy

The activation energy is the needed energy to break the chemical bonds of reactants to produce new products. For this to occur, reactant molecules need to get to a transition state. So the activation energy is the amount of energy necessary for a reactant to reach its transition state.

The transition state always requires more energy than the reactants and products by themselves. This is why in the reaction curves, the highest peak corresponds to the activation energy.

Now we can make the following graphs interpretation:

• reactions with no enzymes ⇒ reach the same product using the same reactants, but they need a higher activation energy to occur.

• reactions with enzymes ⇒ reach the same product using the same reactants, but they need a lower activation energy to occur as the reaction rate increases.

The conclusion is that The enzyme reduces the amount of activation energy required for the reaction to proceed.

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Related link: brainly.com/question/24683400