A researcher proposes a model of an enzyme-catalyzed reaction in which a reactant is converted to a product. The model is based on the idea that the reactant passes through a transition state within the enzyme-substrate complex before the reactant is converted to the product.
Which of the following statements best helps explain how the enzyme speeds up the reaction?
The enzyme's active site binds to and stabilizes the transition state, which decreases the activation energy of the reaction.