BiomoleculesmediumNUMERICAL

Enzymes drastically lower the energy barrier for biochemical reactions. The uncatalyzed acid hydrolyBiomolecules Chemistry Question

Question

Enzymes drastically lower the energy barrier for biochemical reactions. The uncatalyzed acid hydrolysis of sucrose requires an activation energy of approximately $6.22\text{ kJ/mol}$. When this exact reaction is biologically catalyzed by the specific enzyme sucrase, the activation energy drops significantly to $x\text{ kJ/mol}$. Determine the nearest integer value of $x$.

Answer: 2

💡 Solution & Explanation

Enzymes operate by providing an alternative reaction pathway with a significantly lower activation energy. While the acid-catalyzed hydrolysis of sucrose requires $6.22\text{ kJ/mol}$, the presence of the enzyme sucrase drops the activation energy to just $2.15\text{ kJ/mol}$. Rounding to the nearest integer yields $2$.

💬
Still have doubts about this question?
Send it to our AI chemistry tutor on WhatsApp — gets answered in minutes
Ask on WhatsApp →

Practice 22,000+ questions like this

AI-adaptive practice, video lectures, and full NEET Chemistry content — all in one place.

JEE Advanced · JEE Mains · NEET · IChO · AP Chemistry