what is the difference between enzyme and catalyst?
Enzymes and catalysts both affect the rate of a reaction. The difference between catalysts and enzymes is that while catalysts are inorganic compounds, enzymes are largely organic in nature and are bio-catalysts. Even though all known enzymes are catalysts, all catalysts are not enzymes. Moreover, catalysts and enzymes are not consumed in the reactions they catalyze. Catalysts are low molecular weight componds, enzymes are high molecular globular proteins. Catalysts are inorganic, enzymes are organic. Catalyst reaction rates are slower (usually) than enzyme reaction rates. Catalysts are not generally specific - enzymes are VERY specific. Catalysts increase or decrease the rate of a chemical reaction, enzymes are proteins that incrase the rate of chemical reactions & convert the substrate into product. There are 2 types of catalysts - (positive & negative), and the 2 types of enzymes are activation enzymes and inhibitory enzymes. Catalysts are simple inorganic molecules, while enzymes are complex proteins.
