Catalysts

[Giselle Littleton 1F]

How do catalysts lower the activation energy of the transition state?

[Hui Qiao Wu 1I]

They somehow affect the orientation of the substrate it binds to, helping it to achieve the proper orientation.

[PranaviKolla2B]

What else are the functions of catalysts, besides lowering the activation energy?

[ABombino_2J]

Lowering the activation energy and increasing the rate are the main functions of a catalyst. It’s important to note they go into the reaction and come out; in other words, they are not consumed.

[Cole Woulbroun 1J]

I am not exactly sure about a non-enzymatic catalyst's mechanism of lowering activation energy, but the principles of the two types of catalysts performing the process is likely similar. In an enzyme, the various chemical groups on the amino acids that are exposed to the substrate form non-covalent interactions with them. The formation of these temporary bonds releases energy, effectively lowering the energy of the transition state and allowing for the reaction to occur.

[Cole Woulbroun 1J]

Proper orientation also helps increase the reaction rate.

[Nare Nazaryan 1F]

What else are the functions of catalysts, besides lowering the activation energy?

They speed up a reaction by reducing the activation energy or changing the reaction mechanism.

[305385703]

catalysts provide a different way from going to reactants to products. this way allows for the breaking and forming of bonds to require less energy, because the orientation of the reactants, intermediates and products are different than if the reaction proceeded normally.

[Elizabeth Harty 1A]

providing a alternate pathway and weakening bonds