THERMODYNAMICS/ KINETICS

Thermodynamics and Kinetics are ways of measuring chemical reactions - thermodynamics measures how much free energy is gained or lost by the molecules participating in a reaction. And Kinetics measures the rate and mechanism of that reaction. Chemical reactions tend towards a stable state of equilibrium. Catalysts are chemical species that speed up the rate of reaction by decreasing the activation energy of a reaction - but they do not affect its thermodynamics or equilibrium state.

Cells in our bodies are constantly undergoing reactions that consume and release energy (This is called Bioenergetics). Enzymes are protein catalysts that speed up these biological reactions.