a substance that reduces the rate of a reaction is called an ___________ .
a substance that reduces the rate of a reaction is called an ___________ .
The substance that reduces the rate of a reaction is called an inhibitor. Inhibitors are molecules that interfere with the chemical reactions by binding to the reactants or catalysts involved in the reaction. By doing so, inhibitors slow down or prevent the reaction from occurring at its normal rate.
Inhibitors are commonly used in various applications, such as in the food industry to prevent spoilage, as you mentioned, by inhibiting the oxidation process. They are also used in chemical processes to control reaction rates, in medicine as drugs to hinder certain biochemical reactions, and in many other fields.
There are different types of inhibitors, including competitive inhibitors, which compete with the substrate for the active site of an enzyme, and non-competitive inhibitors, which bind to a separate site on the enzyme, causing a conformational change and inhibiting its activity. Additionally, there are irreversible inhibitors that permanently bind to the enzyme, rendering it inactive.
Overall, inhibitors play an important role in controlling and regulating chemical reactions. They can be essential in maintaining the desired rate of a reaction, preventing unwanted reactions, or even treating certain diseases.