enzymes Flashcards
what is an enzyme?
enzymes are biological catalysts
What is the lock and key mechanism?
in a reaction, the enzyme is the lock and the substrate is the key
How does pH effect the activity of an enzyme?
At the enzyme’s optimum pH, the enzyme will work at its maximum capacity. If the pH rises and falls, the enzymes denature, and the ‘lock’ will be disfigured. That means the substrate won’t be able to work properly.
how does temperature effect the activity of an enzyme?
As the temperature increases, the kinetic energy also increases, and they will start moving faster. This will cause more collisions between the enzymes and the substrates and increase their rate of reaction. If the temperature increases more than the optimum temperature, the enzyme will denature and the reactions will stop.