--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It was obvious-to me at any rate-that the…" description: "\"It was obvious-to me at any rate-that the answer was to why an enzyme is able to speed up a chemical reaction by as much as 10 million times. It had to..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/797/linus-pauling-8508_able_it-was-obvious-to-me-at-any-rate-that-th_2760402.jpg" --- # It was obvious-to me at any rate-that the answer was to… ![“It was obvious-to me at any rate-that the answer was to why an enzyme is able to speed up a chemical reaction by as much as 10 million times. It had to do this by lowering the energy of activation-the energy of forming the activated complex. It could do this by forming strong bonds with the…” quote by Linus Pauling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/797/linus-pauling-8508_able_it-was-obvious-to-me-at-any-rate-that-th_2760402.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/797/linus-pauling-8508_able_it-was-obvious-to-me-at-any-rate-that-th_2760402.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/797/linus-pauling-8508_able_it-was-obvious-to-me-at-any-rate-that-th_2760402.jpg) > “It was obvious-to me at any rate-that the answer was to why an enzyme is able to speed up a chemical reaction by as much as 10 million times. It had to do this by lowering the energy of activation-the energy of forming the activated complex. It could do this by forming strong bonds with the activated complex, but only weak bonds with the reactants or products.” [Linus Pauling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linus-pauling/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Enzyme catalysis works by stabilizing the transition state, lowering activation energy, which speeds reactions dramatically. **In simple terms:** Enzymes lower energy barriers. Key Takeaway Study transition‑state stabilization. Themes chemistry biochemistry energy reaction rates Mood analytical educational Type scientific technical When to use this quote - lab experiments - drug design - industrial processes - education Key Concepts catalysis thermodynamics Questions to Reflect On - How does transition‑state theory apply to drug design? - What other catalysts mimic enzymes? A Different Perspective Complex mechanisms can be hard to visualize. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Able](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/able/) [Activation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/activation/) [Answer Enzyme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/answer-enzyme-3165599/) [Answers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/answers/) [Chemical Reaction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chemical-reaction/) [Chemical reactions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chemical-reactions/) [Chemicals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chemicals/) [Complexes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/complexes/) [Energy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/energy/) [Energy Activation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/energy-activation-3165602/) [Enzyme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enzyme-56526/) [Enzyme Able](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enzyme-able-3165600/) [Enzymes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enzymes/) [Evolution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evolution/) [Millions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/millions/) [Obvious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/obvious/) [Products](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/products/) [Rate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rate/) [Reactions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reactions/) [Speed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/speed/) [Speed Chemical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/speed-chemical-3165601/) [Strong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strong/) [Strong bond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strong-bond/) [Weak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weak/) ## Related quotes > [No human can design a good enzyme, yet we are surrounded by them after 3.5 billion years of work by evolution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-arnold/no-human-can-design-a-good-enzyme-yet-we-are-surrounded-by-them-after/) [Frances Arnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-arnold/) > [“Pineapples are one of nature’s medicines.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/pineapples-are-one-of-nature-s-medicines/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [“They also knew that there was a string of DNA at the end of each chromosome called a telomere, which shortened a tiny bit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-skloot/they-also-knew-that-there-was-a-string-of-dna-at-the-end-of-each/) [Rebecca Skloot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-skloot/) > [“Enzyme production is often disturbed by COVID-19 infection.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/enzyme-production-is-often-disturbed-by-covid-19-infection/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [Be an enzyme - a catalyst for change. As a slogan, I don't know if that's ever going to be right up there with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-omidyar/be-an-enzyme-a-catalyst-for-change-as-a-slogan-i-don-t-know-if-that-s/) [Pierre Omidyar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-omidyar/) > [What the psychedelics are for us as a species, rather than for each one of us as an individual, what they are for us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terence-mckenna/what-the-psychedelics-are-for-us-as-a-species-rather-than-for-each/) [Terence McKenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terence-mckenna/) > [My favorite thing is Tracie Martyn's Enzyme Exfoliant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stacy-martin/my-favorite-thing-is-tracie-martyn-s-enzyme-exfoliant/) [Stacy Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stacy-martin/) > [The success of any user generated content-related project should be judged in the long term. Try not to use it as a one-off campaign…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damian-thompson/the-success-of-any-user-generated-content-related-project-should-be/) [Damian Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damian-thompson/) > [Satyagraha means insistence on what one knows to be the truth. The insistence implies the exercise of free will as the need of social…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/goparaju-ramachandra-rao/satyagraha-means-insistence-on-what-one-knows-to-be-the-truth-the/) [Goparaju Ramachandra Rao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/goparaju-ramachandra-rao/) > [The creative process, so far as we are able to follow it at all, consists in the unconscious activation of an archetypal image and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/the-creative-process-so-far-as-we-are-able-to-follow-it-at-all/) [Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/) > [Reagents are regarded as acting by virtue of a constitutional affinity either for electrons or for nuclei... the terms electrophilic (electron-seeking) and nucleophilic (nucleus-seeking)…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-kelk-ingold/reagents-are-regarded-as-acting-by-virtue-of-a-constitutional/) [Christopher Kelk Ingold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-kelk-ingold/) > [When you engage in compassion, and you hear a distressing sound, like someone calling for help, there is an activation in an area of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthieu-ricard/when-you-engage-in-compassion-and-you-hear-a-distressing-sound-like/) [Matthieu Ricard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthieu-ricard/) > [I endeavor to make a picture, for instance, exert a positive influence on the observer by its coloring, mood, and compositional idea, encouraging, say,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-bill/i-endeavor-to-make-a-picture-for-instance-exert-a-positive-influence/) [Max Bill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-bill/) > [You have to figure out what conversion means in your case. What does retention mean? What does activation mean? For every business, it's going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stewart-butterfield/you-have-to-figure-out-what-conversion-means-in-your-case-what-does/) [Stewart Butterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stewart-butterfield/) > [I've had an addiction for a long time to the whole business of maximizing one's potential, what I call human activation. The vehicle for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/padgett-powell/i-ve-had-an-addiction-for-a-long-time-to-the-whole-business-of/) [Padgett Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/padgett-powell/) ## More by Linus Pauling > [You can trace every sickness, every disease and every ailment to a mineral deficiency.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linus-pauling/you-can-trace-every-sickness-every-disease-and-every-ailment-to-a/) [Linus Pauling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linus-pauling/) > [Science is the search for truth, that is the effort to understand the world: it involves the rejection of bias, of dogma, of revelation,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linus-pauling/science-is-the-search-for-truth-that-is-the-effort-to-understand-the/) [Linus Pauling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linus-pauling/) > [The only sane policy for the world is that of abolishing war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linus-pauling/the-only-sane-policy-for-the-world-is-that-of-abolishing-war/) [Linus Pauling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linus-pauling/) > [Just one living cell in the human body is, more complex than New York City.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linus-pauling/just-one-living-cell-in-the-human-body-is-more-complex-than-new-york/) [Linus Pauling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linus-pauling/) > [Satisfaction of one's curiosity is one of the greatest sources of happiness in life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linus-pauling/satisfaction-of-one-s-curiosity-is-one-of-the-greatest-sources-of/) [Linus Pauling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linus-pauling/) > [Science is the search for the truth--it is not a game in which one tries to beat his opponent, to do harm to others.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linus-pauling/science-is-the-search-for-the-truth-it-is-not-a-game-in-which-one/) [Linus Pauling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linus-pauling/) > [ \[Professor Pauling\] confesses that he had harboured the feeling that sooner or later he would be the one to get the DNA structure; and… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linus-pauling/professor-pauling-confesses-that-he-had-harboured-the-feeling-that/) [Linus Pauling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linus-pauling/) > [The best way to have a good idea is to have lots of ideas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linus-pauling/the-best-way-to-have-a-good-idea-is-to-have-lots-of-ideas/) [Linus Pauling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linus-pauling/) > [Every aspect of the world today - even politics and international relations - is affected by chemistry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linus-pauling/every-aspect-of-the-world-today-even-politics-and-international/) [Linus Pauling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linus-pauling/) > [I believe that you can, by taking some simple and inexpensive measures, lead a longer life and extend your years of well-being. My most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linus-pauling/i-believe-that-you-can-by-taking-some-simple-and-inexpensive-measures/) [Linus Pauling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linus-pauling/) > [But I know also that still more interesting discoveries will be made that I have not the imagination to describe - and I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linus-pauling/but-i-know-also-that-still-more-interesting-discoveries-will-be-made/) [Linus Pauling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linus-pauling/) > [Man's great power of thinking, remembering, and communicating are responsible for the evolution of civilization.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linus-pauling/man-s-great-power-of-thinking-remembering-and-communicating-are/) [Linus Pauling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linus-pauling/) > [The best way to have a good idea is to have a lot of ideas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linus-pauling/the-best-way-to-have-a-good-idea-is-to-have-a-lot-of-ideas/) [Linus Pauling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linus-pauling/) > [I try to identify myself with the atoms ... I ask what I would do If I were a carbon atom or a sodium atom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linus-pauling/i-try-to-identify-myself-with-the-atoms-i-ask-what-i-would-do-if-i/) [Linus Pauling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linus-pauling/) > [The way to get good ideas is to get lots of ideas and throw the bad ones away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linus-pauling/the-way-to-get-good-ideas-is-to-get-lots-of-ideas-and-throw-the-bad/) [Linus Pauling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linus-pauling/) [Explore all 80 Linus Pauling quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linus-pauling/) ## More Able quotes > [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/) [Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/) > [I have observed this in my experience of slavery, - that whenever my condition was improved, instead of its increasing my contentment, it only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/i-have-observed-this-in-my-experience-of-slavery-that-whenever-my/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/) [Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/) > [In the '80s, the way radio was programmed, if you didn't have a hit record you weren't going to be able to make any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huey-lewis/in-the-80s-the-way-radio-was-programmed-if-you-didn-t-have-a-hit/) [Huey Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huey-lewis/) > [I think I've had the longest career of strength, focus, and still being able to sell records. I think I'm that guy. I'm still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/i-think-i-ve-had-the-longest-career-of-strength-focus-and-still-being/) [Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/) > [I have that need in me, I want everyone to love me, but I'm embarrassed by that need, so I wanted to cover it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-jeselnik/i-have-that-need-in-me-i-want-everyone-to-love-me-but-i-m-embarrassed/) [Anthony Jeselnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-jeselnik/) > [Thinking about the things that happened, I don't know any other ball player would could have done what he (Jackie Robinson) did. To be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pee-wee-reese/thinking-about-the-things-that-happened-i-don-t-know-any-other-ball/) [Pee Wee Reese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pee-wee-reese/) > [I wanted to remember in order to be able to return.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anais-nin/i-wanted-to-remember-in-order-to-be-able-to-return/) [Anais Nin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anais-nin/) > [Government schools, with your tax money, now discourage the teaching of multiplication tables by rote memorization but teach reading by the 'look-and-say' method which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-perry/government-schools-with-your-tax-money-now-discourage-the-teaching-of/) [Greg Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-perry/) > [I don't know if I would qualify as mainstream. I think I have managed to function pretty successfully on the fringes of the music…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-metheny/i-don-t-know-if-i-would-qualify-as-mainstream-i-think-i-have-managed/) [Pat Metheny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-metheny/) > [What we're supposed to do as actors is be able to portray real human beings and emotions. And if you grow up in this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-browning/what-we-re-supposed-to-do-as-actors-is-be-able-to-portray-real-human/) [Emily Browning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-browning/) > [The reason that Apple is able to create products like iPad is because we always try to be at the intersection of technology and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-jobs/the-reason-that-apple-is-able-to-create-products-like-ipad-is-because/) [Steve Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-jobs/) > [It was an important period for us, because even though we weren't a "punk band", and what became a model for a punk band,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-mallinder/it-was-an-important-period-for-us-because-even-though-we-weren-t-a/) [Stephen Mallinder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-mallinder/) > [- You look fine. - Right. I look fine. Except I don't, said Zora, tugging sadly at her man's nightshirt. This was why Kiki…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zadie-smith/you-look-fine-right-i-look-fine-except-i-don-t-said-zora-tugging/) [Zadie Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zadie-smith/) > [There is a way to be a woman, ask for what we deserve and be able to negotiate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracee-ellis-ross/there-is-a-way-to-be-a-woman-ask-for-what-we-deserve-and-be-able-to/) [Tracee Ellis Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracee-ellis-ross/) [Browse all 17,257 Able quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/able/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It was obvious-to me at any rate-that the answer was to why an enzyme is able to speed up a chemical reaction by as much as 10 million times. It had to do this by lowering the energy of activation-the energy of forming the activated complex. 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