Question

a. How does an enzyme speed up the reaction of a substrate?

b. After the products have formed, what happens to the enzyme?

Short answer

(Part a) Molecules can react and form product.

(Part b) The enzyme remains unchanged.

Step-by-step solution

Introduction (Part a) 

Enzymes promote chemical reactions by bringing substrates together in the best possible orientation, resulting in an ideal chemical environment for the reaction.

Given information (Part a) 

An enzyme speed up the reaction

Explanation (Part a)

• An enzyme accelerates a substrate reaction by lowering the activation energy required for the reaction.
• More substrate molecules can react to form product as activation energy decreases.

Given information (Part b)

What happens to the enzyme

Explanation (Part b)

Even after the products have formed, the enzyme remains unchanged.