enzymes

Question 1

what are enzymes?

Answer 1

enzymes are biological catalysts that speed up chemical reactions and remain unchanged at the end of the process. they do so by lowering activation energy and are affected by pH and temperature

Question 2

what is the lock and key hypothesis?

Answer 2

the substrate (key) binds to the complementary active site of the enzyme (lock)

Question 3

explain the full process of the enzyme-substrate complex (3 steps)

Answer 3

1. a substrate will bind to the complementary active site of an enzyme with a specific 3D conformation in a lock and key formation
2. an enzyme-substrate complex is formed, lowering the activation energy
3. after the reaction, the product is no longer complementary to the active site and will be released from the enzyme. the enzyme remains unchanged

Question 4

explain temperature affecting enzyme reaction

Answer 4

1. an increase in temperature results in an increase in kinetic energy, thus an increase in effective collisions. there will be a higher rate of enzyme-substrate complexes formed, increasing the reaction rate
2. optimum temperature is reached when there is a highest frequency of effective collisions
3. a temperature that is too high breaks the bonds that hold the enzyme in its functional conformation, denaturing and thus no longer complementary

Question 5

explain pH affecting enzyme reaction

Answer 5

1. optimum pH is when the reaction is maximum, active site complementary to substrate
2. a changing pH alters the enzyme bonding pattern, altering the 3D conformation
3. substrate is no longer complementary and the enzyme is denatured