Final answer:
The coenzyme for the enzyme carboxypeptidase is zinc, which is an inorganic metal ion that functions as a cofactor.
Step-by-step explanation:
Enzymes are proteins that help speed up metabolism, or the chemical reactions in our bodies. They build some substances and break others down. All living things have enzymes. Our bodies naturally produce enzymes. The coenzyme for the enzyme carboxypeptidase is zinc. Zinc is an example of an inorganic metal ion that acts as a cofactor. Enzymes may require the presence of another substrate as a "helper" molecule, known as cofactors or coenzymes, to function properly. Cofactors are typically inorganic ions, while coenzymes are small organic molecules, often derived from vitamins. In the case of carboxypeptidase, zinc ion (Zn²⁺) is the necessary cofactor that assists in its function.