Question

1. in living cells, enzymes act as catalysts, which may reduce the amount of activation energy required for a chemical reaction to occur. in the graphs below, pathway x is a solid line representing the uncatalyzed reaction. the dotted line shows the catalyzed reaction. which graph best illustrates the changes in a reaction when the catalyst reduces the amount of energy required? a. graph with potential energy on y - axis, reaction rate on x - axis, solid line for reactants and products with a peak, labeled x c. graph with potential energy on y - axis, reaction rate on x - axis, solid line for reactants and products with a peak, dotted line for catalyzed reaction with lower peak, labeled x b. graph with potential energy on y - axis, reaction rate on x - axis, solid line for reactants and products with a peak, dotted line for catalyzed reaction with different shape d. graph with potential energy on y - axis, reaction rate on x - axis, solid line for reactants and products with a peak, dotted line for catalyzed reaction with different position of peak

Explanation:

Step1: Understand catalyst function

Catalysts lower activation - energy.

Step2: Analyze graph features

In a catalyzed reaction, the energy barrier (peak of the curve) is lower than in an uncatalyzed reaction. In graph C, the dotted - line (catalyzed reaction) has a lower peak compared to the solid - line (uncatalyzed reaction) while the reactants and products energy levels remain the same, which is consistent with the effect of a catalyst reducing the activation energy.

Answer:

C