Answer:
A catalyst is a substance that speeds up the rate of a chemical reaction without itself being consumed in the reaction. Enzymes are biological catalysts that are found in all living things. Amylase is an enzyme that breaks down starch into sugar.
Step-by-step explanation:
Catalysts work by lowering the activation energy of a reaction. Activation energy is the minimum amount of energy that the reactants need to have in order to react. When a catalyst is present, it provides an alternative pathway for the reaction that has a lower activation energy. This means that more of the reactants will have enough energy to react, and the reaction will proceed faster.
In the case of amylase, it lowers the activation energy of the reaction that breaks down starch into sugar. This means that more of the starch molecules will have enough energy to react, and the reaction will proceed faster. This is why our saliva contains amylase, so that we can start digesting starch as soon as we put food in our mouths.