Catalysts And Enzymes

Question 1

Enzymes

Answer 1

In your body, the rate of chemical reactions is controlled by enzymes. They biological catalysts. Enzymes react with a particular substrate. Enzymes are large protein molecules. The long chain of amino acids are folded to produce a molecule with an active site that has a unique shape, so can only react with certain substrates.

Question 2

Who do enzymes work?

Answer 2

The substrate of the reaction to be catalysed fits into the active site. Once it is in place, the 2 bind together. This happens rapidly and the substrate splits into products which are released from the surface of the enzyme.

Question 3

Metabolic reactions

Answer 3

Enzymes do not change after the reaction. Enzymes control the metabolism. The metabolism is the sum of all the reactions in the body. Different enzymes catalyse specific types of metabolic reactions.

Question 4

Examples of metabolic reactions

Answer 4

Building large molecules from lots of smaller ones.
Changing one molecule into another.
Breaking down large molecules into smaller ones.