Here's why:

* Activation Energy: The minimum amount of energy required for a reaction to occur.

* Enzymes: Biological catalysts that speed up reactions without being consumed in the process.

* How Enzymes Work: Enzymes provide an alternative reaction pathway with a lower activation energy. They do this by:

* Binding to reactants (substrates): This brings the substrates together in the correct orientation for the reaction to occur.

* Stabilizing the transition state: The unstable intermediate state between reactants and products.

Think of it like this: Imagine pushing a rock up a hill. The hill represents the activation energy. An enzyme acts like a ramp, making it easier to push the rock to the top (start the reaction). The rock still has to be pushed, but it takes less effort thanks to the ramp (enzyme).