Enzyme Catalysis
Catalysis by protein molecules that bind substrates at a specific active site and lower the activation energy dramatically.
Unit
Dimensionless
In depth
Enzymes achieve rate enhancements of up to 10¹⁷ and are exquisitely selective, often for a single substrate and a single stereochemical outcome. They work under mild conditions of temperature and pH but are denatured outside a narrow range, and are regulated by inhibitors and activators.
Examples in the real world
Catalase decomposing hydrogen peroxide at millions of molecules per second; amylase hydrolysing starch.