Question

Name the opposite of catalyst.

Answer 1

Catalyst

• A catalyst is a substance that alters the rate of reaction in a chemical reaction.
• These are known to undergo physical change but not a chemical change.
• Catalyst functions even when present in small quantities.
• Catalysts activate the rate of reaction but a reaction cannot be initiated by them.
• Catalytic activity is known to be maximum at optimum temperature.
• Catalyst generally increases the rate of reaction.

Inhibitor

• Enzyme inhibitors are the polar opposite of catalysts in that they slow down the chemical process.
• They may even stop a reaction.
• Inhibitors are broadly classified as competitive and noncompetitive inhibitors.
• A competitive inhibitor are known to compete with substrate for binding to an active site.
• A non-competitive inhibitor does not attach itself to the active site, instead attaches at a different site than the active site.