In the oxidation of glucose to water and carbon dioxide, enzymes are needed to catalyze the:
A. production of lactic acid.
B. combination of glucose molecules.
C. release of energy by hydrogen removal.
D. storage of energy in glycogen molecules.
Enzymes are proteins that change the rate of reaction. In this case, enzymes are necessary to break down glucose at a faster rate than would occur naturally, as glucose is a very stable molecule. By breaking the glucose molecule apart, energy is released when hydrogen atoms are taken off.