You are examining the rate of reaction for an enzyme called ribulase, which converts the molecule ribulose into two product molecules: isopropanol and acetic acid. Under optimal conditions, the rate of reaction is 200 molecules of isopropanol and acetic acid per second per enzyme molecule. When the molecule covenial is added to the reaction, the rate goes down to 10 molecules of each product per second per enzyme molecule.
You then slowly add an excess of ribulose and note that the rate eventually approaches the rate observed in the absence of covenial. Based on this observation, is covenial an inhibitor? If so, what kind? Explain your reasoning and explain the molecular action of covenial. Provide your answer in four sentences max.