enzymes

Question 1

What is the lock and key theory?

Answer 1

It is that each enzyme is specific to only one substrate and that it wouldn’t break any other substrate down because it wouldn’t fit.

Question 2

What is a catalyst?

Answer 2

A catalyst is chemical that speeds up the rate of reaction without being used up within the process.

Question 3

Explain briefly why an enzyme can only catalyse one reaction.

Answer 3

The active site of the enzyme has a specific shape which is complementary to the substrate and therefore can’t be used for any other reactions.

Question 4

How does temperature affect the rate of reaction?

Answer 4

If the temperature is below the optimum temperature of 37 degrees C then if it gets hotter the kinetic energy will increase and both the enzyme and substrate will move more quickly and collide more frequently catalysing more often.

Question 5

What is denaturing?

Answer 5

Proteins are held together by forces between the different parts of the amino acid chain. High temperatures and changes in pH disrupt these forces so the shape changes. This is denaturing.

Question 6

What is the affect of denaturing on enzymes?

Answer 6

The denaturing changes the shape of the enzyme so it is no longer complementary to the substrate and therefore can’t catalyse it.