Enzymes Flashcards
What is a catalyst?
A substance which increases the speed of a reaction, without being changed or used up in the reaction
What is the purpose of enzymes?
They speed up the useful chemical reactions in the body.
What are enzymes made up of?
Chains of amino acids
Enzymes have _______ ______ so that they can ________ reactions.
SPECIAL SHAPES and CATALYSE
Why can an enzyme only catalyse one reaction?
Every enzyme has a unique shape that will only fit onto the substance involved in a reaction.
What happens if the substance doesn’t match the enzyme’s shape?
The reaction won’t be catalysed
When a reaction has happened the substance catalysed will split, but what about the enzyme?
The enzyme will remain unchanged
What happens when the temperature is too hot in a living thing?
The cells will be damaged
What does denatured mean?
When an enzyme’s special shape is destroyed and it won’t work any more.
At what temperature do enzymes in the human body work best at?
37 degrees Celsius
What happens to enzymes if the pH is too high or low?
The pH interferes with the bonds holding the enzyme together which changes the shape and denatures the enzyme.
Mostly what is the optimum pH for enzymes?
pH 7 (neutral)
