What is the effect of a catalyst in a biochemical reaction?

A catalyst plays a crucial role in biochemical reactions by lowering the activation energy needed for the reaction to occur. Activation energy is the energy barrier that reactants must overcome for a reaction to take place. By reducing this energy requirement, a catalyst increases the rate at which reactions occur, allowing them to proceed more quickly and efficiently at lower temperatures. Importantly, a catalyst does not change the overall outcome of the reaction, meaning that the products formed remain the same as they would be in the absence of the catalyst. This fundamental characteristic makes catalysts valuable in biological processes, as they enable complex biochemical reactions to occur under the mild conditions present in living organisms.