Enzymes are protein catalysts that accelerate chemical reactions. They are classified into 6 main categories based on the type of reaction they catalyze: oxidoreductases, transferases, hydrolases, lyases, isomerases, and ligases. Each enzyme has a unique EC number and systematic name that describes the reaction it catalyzes. Enzymes play essential roles in biology, are used in disease diagnosis and industrial applications, and their activity is dependent on factors like temperature and pH.