Given the question: Enzymes increase the rate of chemical reactions by reducing the amount of activation energy needed for reactants to start reacting. One way this can happen is modeled in the Figure below . Enzymes aren't changed or used up in the reactions they catalyze, so they can be used to speed up the same reaction over and over again. Each enzyme is highly specific for the particular reaction is catalyzes, so enzymes are very effective. A reaction that would take many years to occur without its enzyme might occur in a split second with the enzyme. Enzymes are also very efficient, so waste products rarely form. Two scientists, Cathy and Mark, are working on a new project. They want to make a new polymer using two chemicals. Mark mixes the two chemicals together on the first day and after a week of waiting he has managed to create a new polymer. While he is happy about the result he feels a week is way to long. Cathy has an idea. She decides to try adding an enzyme to the chemical mixture, The mixture only takes seconds to form the new polymer and the enzyme she used is in tact floating on top of the now completed polymer. She decides to test even further and uses the left over enzyme on another batch of chemicals. The reaction occurs in seconds again and the same amount of enzyme is left floating on top of the polymer for her to use again in the next batch. Will using the enzyme in the chemical mixture increase or decrease the speed of the reaction?
The answer is:
increase