question_answer 80)

  Activation energy for the acid catalysed hydrolysis of sucrose is 6.22 kJ , while the activation energy is only 2.15 kJ  when hydrolysis is catalysed by the enzyme sucrase. Explain.

Answer:

                  Enzymes are biocatalysts. They reduce the magnitude of activation energy by providing alternative path. For example, in the hydrolysis of sucrose, the enzyme sucrose reduces the activation energy from 6-22 kJ  to 2-15 kJ . As a result, enzyme catalysed reactions occur at a much faster rate than the ordinary laboratory chemical reactions using conventional catalysts.