How does enzyme speed up reaction?

Enzymes speed up chemical reactions by lowering the activation energy needed for the reaction to start. This makes reactions happen faster without being used up themselves. Enzymes are biological catalysts made of proteins. Every reaction needs energy to begin, called activation energy. Enzymes reduce this energy requirement by binding to the reactants (substrates) and forming an enzyme-substrate complex. This process makes breaking and forming bonds easier.

Steps of Enzyme Action:

1. The substrate binds to the enzyme’s active site.
2. The enzyme lowers the activation energy by stabilizing the transition state.
3. The reaction occurs, and products are released.
4. The enzyme remains unchanged and can be reused.

For example, digestion of food involves enzymes like amylase (breaks starch into sugar), lipase (breaks fats), and protease (breaks proteins). Without enzymes, these reactions would be too slow to support life.