gen-briefly-explain-enzyme-catalysis-and-one-common-misconceptio-6bca

Briefly explain enzyme catalysis and one common misconception about it.

## Enzyme Catalysis Enzymes are biological catalysts that speed up chemical reactions by **lowering the activation energy** required for the reaction to proceed. They work by binding substrates at their active site, stabilizing the transition state, and facilitating the conversion of substrates to products. Crucially, enzymes are not consumed in the reaction and can be used repeatedly. ## Common Misconception **Misconception:** *Enzymes change the equilibrium of a reaction.* **Reality:** Enzymes only affect the **rate** at which equilibrium is reached, not the equilibrium position itself. They speed up both forward and reverse reactions equally. The final ratio of products to reactants at equilibrium remains the same whether an enzyme is present or not—the enzyme just helps the system get there faster. This is a fundamental principle: catalysts (including enzymes) affect kinetics, not thermodynamics.