2.10 Role of Enzymes

Question 1

What are enzymes?

Answer 1

They are proteins which act as biological catalysts to speed up the rate of a chemical reaction without being changed or used up in the reaction.

Question 2

How do enzymes work?

Answer 2

-Enzymes and substrates randomly move in solution
-When an enzyme and complementary substrate randomly collide an enzyme-substrate complex forms. Which is called the “Lock and Key” and the reaction occurs
-Compounds form from the substrate which are then released from the active site
- The enzyme stays the same and can catalyse further reactions