2b Flashcards
What is an enzyme?
A biological catalyst
Define catalyst
A catalyst is a substance which increases the speed of reaction, with ought being changed or used up in the reaction
Why do enzymes have special shapes?
So they can catalyse reactions
What do chemical reactions usually involve?
Things either being split apart or joined together
Why can enzymes generally only catalyse one reaction?
Every enzyme has a unique shape that fits onto the substance involved in a reaction, the substance has to fit its special shape
What two things do enzymes need?
The right temperature and pH
What happens if an enzyme gets too hot?
Higher temperature increases the rate at first. But if it gets too hot, some of the bonds holding the enzyme together break. This destroys the enzymes’s special shape and so it won’t work any more. Its said to be denatured
What happens if the pH of an enzyme is too high or too low?
The pH interferes with bonds holding the enzyme together. This changes the shape and denatures the enzyme
What are the five main parts of the digestive system?
Glands, the stomach, large intestine, small intestine, liver
What do digestive enzymes do?
Break down big molecules into smaller ones
Name three examples of BIG molecules
Starch, proteins and fats
Name four examples of smaller molecules
Sugars, amino acids, glycerol and fatty acids
Why do big molecules need to be broken down into smaller molecules in the digestive system?
So that they can pass easily through the walls of the digestive system
What does amylase do?
Converts starch into sugars
What three places is amylase made?
The salivary glands, the pancreas, the small intestine
What does protease do?
Converts protein into amino acids
What three places is protease made?
The stomach, the pancreas, the small intestine
What does lipase do?
Converts lipids into glycerol and fatty acids
What two places is lipase made?
The pancreas, the small intestine
What are lipids?
Fats and oils
Where is bile produced and stored?
Produced in the over, stored in the gall bladder
What does bile do?
Neutralises the stomach acid and emulsifies fats (breaks the fat into tiny droplets
What are the three main functions of the stomach?
Pummels the food within muscular walls, produces protease enzyme, produces hydrochloric acid
Why does the stomach produce hydrochloric acid?
To kill bacteria, to give he right pH for the protease enzyme to work
What does the pancreas do?
Produced protease, amylase and lipase enzyme. Releases this into the small intestine
What does the small intestine do?
Produces protease, amylase and lipase enzymes to complete digestion
What does the large intestine do?
It is where excess water is absorbed from food
What does the gall bladder do?
Where bile is stored before released into small intestine
What does the liver do?
Where bile is produced
What do the salivary glands do?
These produce amylase enzyme in the saliva
What is respiration?
The process of releasing energy from glucose which goes on in every cell
What is aerobic respiration?
Respiration using oxygen