Enzyme

[CameronJohari1J]

Do enzymes always speed up the reaction by lowering the activation energy or can they also act as inhibitors and slow down the reaction?

[Remi Lathrop 1G]

In every case I can think of, enzymes act as catalysts by lowering the activation energy of the reaction and speeding up the reaction. Cells use a lot of energy, so it is in their best interest to evolve enzymes that will speed up their chemical processes as opposed to slowing them down. Enzymes and active sites can become denatured so that they will no longer bind and be able to act as a catalyst, but in general there are not enzymes that slow down reactions.

[AtreyiMitra2L]

Enzymes, by defintion, are catalysts. Therefore, they work by speeding up the reaction and not by slowing down.

[Renee Delamater 2H]

Enzymes are catalysts and their job is to lower the activation energy - the energy needed for the reaction to get between the products and reactants point.

[Clarissa Molina 1D]

What is the difference between a homogeneous catalyst and a heterogeneous catalyst?

[Jenny Cheng 2K]

A homogeneous catalyst is a catalyst in the same phase as the reactant. A heterogeneous catalyst is a catalyst that is in a different phase than the reactant.

[406003397]

Enzymes primarily function to speed up reactions by lowering the activation energy, thereby increasing the rate at which products are formed. However, under certain conditions or with specific regulatory enzymes, they can also act as inhibitors, binding to reactants or other enzymes to slow down or even halt a reaction, thus playing a crucial role in metabolic control.