How do enzymes affect chemical reactions?

Enzymes are biological catalysts that play a crucial role in speeding up chemical reactions within living organisms. By lowering the activation energy required for a reaction to occur, enzymes allow these reactions to proceed more quickly and efficiently. This catalytic action enables various biochemical processes, such as digestion and metabolism, to happen at rates necessary for sustaining life.

The correct answer highlights that enzymes facilitate or catalyze reactions, enabling substrates to convert into products more readily. This key feature of enzymes is fundamental to biological systems, as it ensures that essential reactions occur at a pace that aligns with the organism's needs. Without enzymes, many reactions would occur too slowly to support life.