Enzymes

Question 1

What are enzymes?

Answer 1

Biological catalysts that control reactions in the body.
A catalyst is something that speeds up the rate of a chemical reaction
Enzymes aren’t used up in the reaction

Question 2

How does a carbohydrate become a sugar?

Answer 2

Carbs (starch for energy storage in plants) are digested by Amylase into sugars (Glucose for respirating). Sugar can be synthesised back into carbs

Question 3

How does a lipid become a fatty acid + glycerol?

Answer 3

The lipid (for every storage) is digested by lipase to become fatty acids + glycerol (for respiration) it can become lipids again through synthesis

Question 4

How does a protein become an amino acid?

Answer 4

Proteins (for muscle cells) are digested using protease to make amino acids (to make enzymes). they can be converted back using synthesis.

Question 5

What’s the core practical for enzymes?

Answer 5

Iodine solution (yellow/orange)
- tests for starch 
- if starch present, turns blue/black 
Benedictus solution (blue)
- tests for reducing sugar 
- green, orange, red, depending on how much sugar is present 
Burst test (pale blue) 
- tests for protein
- turns purple if protein is present
Ethanol (clear)
- test for fat
- turns cloudy if fat is present