The p. multocida that are growing within sam’s abscess are breaking glucose down via glycolysis in order to obtain energy. this process occurs via a series of enzymatic reactions. during a chemical reaction, an enzyme functions as a biological catalyst and lowers the activation energy. how does an enzyme lower the activation energy of a reaction?

a. the enzyme increases the effectiveness of reactant collisions thereby increasing the number of reactant molecules that reach activation energy.
b. as the enzyme is utilized, heat is released causing an increase in the reaction rate and a subsequent lowering in the energy of activation.
c. the breakdown of the enzyme provides energy to the reactants allowing them to reach activation energy more quickly.
d. the enzyme increases the potential energy available to the reactants, thereby decreasing the activation energy that must be reached.