Enzymes Flashcards
How can you usually increase the rate of a reaction?
By raising the temperature
What happens if you raise the temperature of a living creature beyond their limit?
The cells begin to get damaged
What is the role of enzymes?
They reduce the need for high temperatures by speeding up the useful chemical reactions in the body
What are enzymes made of?
Proteins
What are all proteins made up of?
Chains of amino acid
What happens if a substance doesn’t match the enzymes shape?
The reaction won’t be catalysed
How many reactions do enzymes catalyse?
One, the substance has to match the enzyme
What two factors affect the effectiveness of enzymes?
Temperature and pH level
What affect does the temperature have on the effectiveness of enzymes?
The higher the temperature, the greater the rate of reaction until the temperature gets over 37 degrees at which it begins to decrease
What happens to enzymes if the temperature rises above 37 degrees?
The bonds that hold the enzyme together begin to break, causing the enzyme to become misshapen and denatured
What is the effect of the wrong pH on enzymes?
The bonds that hold the enzyme together begin to break, causing the enzyme to become misshapen and denatured
What is the optimum pH for enzymes to work at?
Often it’s pH 7, but it is dependent on the enzyme itself, for instance enzymes found in the stomach work best at a pH of around 2
What is the optimum temperature for enzymes to work at?
37 degrees (the temperature of the human body)
What is an enzyme?
A catalyst produced by living things
