Living Environment Regents Practice Test

What type of substances do biological catalysts represent?

1. Hormones

2. Minerals

3. Enzymes

4. Vitamins

The correct answer is: Enzymes

Biological catalysts are represented by enzymes, which are proteins that accelerate chemical reactions in living organisms. Enzymes lower the activation energy required for reactions to occur, allowing them to happen more quickly and efficiently compared to reactions without a catalyst. Enzymes are highly specific, meaning that each type of enzyme typically catalyzes a specific reaction or set of reactions, often related to a particular substrate. This specificity is important for metabolic processes, as it ensures that the biochemical pathways operate correctly and efficiently within the organism. In contrast, hormones are signaling molecules that regulate physiological processes without directly catalyzing reactions, minerals are inorganic substances that often play structural roles or assist in enzyme function, and vitamins are organic compounds that may serve as coenzymes or precursors for enzymes but are not catalysts themselves. Understanding the role of enzymes as biological catalysts is fundamental to grasping how metabolic processes function in all living organisms.