B4 Flashcards
Are most chemical reactions slow or fast?
Slow
What are 3 cons about increasing the temperature to speed up a reaction?
-Requires a lot of energy
-Can damage cells
-Also speed up non-useful reactions
What is a catalyst?
A substance that increase the speed of a reaction, without being used up in the process
What is an enzyme?
A catalyst made my living organisms
What physically is an enzyme?
Large proteins, made up of large chains of amino acids
Why do enzymes fold up to make different shapes?
To be a unique enzyme that catalyses a particular chemical reaction
What is an active site in an enzyme?
A part of the enzyme with a unique shape that’s complimentary to the substrates of the reaction
What happens if the substrate doesn’t fit the active site of the enzyme?
The reaction won’t be catalysed
What is the the lock and key model?
Scientists thought that the substrate had to fit perfectly into the active site
What is the induced fit model?
The enzyme changes shape slightly as it binds to the substrate
-the enzyme is complimentary to the substrates
In order for an enzyme to catalyse a reaction, the active site of the enzyme must be:
Complemtary to the substrate
