Enzyme catalysis

Okay kiddo, let me explain enzyme catalysis in a way that you can understand. Enzyme is a type of special-little worker that helps chemical reactions happen inside our body.

Think of enzymes as construction workers who work on a building. The construction workers have special tools that they use to build the building such as hammers, saws, and nails. Similar to construction workers, enzymes have a special shape and size that helps them to do their job, just like a hammer nail.

Now, in our body, we have many different types of molecules that need to be broken down, processed, or built up to provide the energy and building blocks for our bodies to function properly. Enzymes play an important role in these processes as they work as a catalyst to speed up the rate of these chemical reactions.

Just like a construction worker uses their special tools to build, enzymes have their own unique set of tools called 'active sites' that help them to bond with other molecules to make new products. These active sites are like puzzle pieces which only fit with specific molecules, just like how a Lego piece only fits with another block of the same shape and size.

Enzymes work by grabbing onto a specific molecule, fitting it into the active site, and then transforming it into something new—for example, breaking down food into smaller molecules that the body can absorb. The whole process happens incredibly quickly and efficiently, enabling our body's biochemical reactions to occur in seconds or less.

So, in summary, enzymes are like special workers with their unique tools that help speed up chemical reactions in our body. They are like construction workers for our cells, building and breaking down molecules that they bond with to form something new. Hopefully, that helps to explain what enzyme catalysis is!