27. Enzymes as catalysts

Question 1

what do enzymes do?

Answer 1

catalyse chemical reactions which together make up the process of metabolism

Question 2

what do enzymes speed up?

Answer 2

the rate at which a reaction reaches equilibrium

Question 3

do enzymes affect the equilibrium position of a reaction

Answer 3

NO

Question 5

describe efficient enzymes

Answer 5

work in body temp, aqueous solution, neutral pH. Can increase the rate of a reaction by a factor of up to 1020

Question 6

describe specific enzymes

Answer 6

has a limited range of substrates, some can distinguish stereoisomers

Question 7

describe potent enzymes

Answer 7

each enzyme molecule can convert many substrate molecules into product per second

Question 8

catalysts- mostly protein enzymes- what is the exception

Answer 8

exception: some types of RNA - ribozymes - are catalysts

Question 9

describe the activation energy

Answer 9

stable reactants must over come the energy barrier (Ea) and while it is doing that it goes into the transition state and is unstable. and then products are produced (G)