Enzymes Flashcards
What are enzymes?
Enzymes are catalysts produced by living things
What is a catalyst
A catalyst is a substance which increases the speed of a reaction without being changed or used up in the reaction.
What is a substrate
A substrate is the substance that an enzyme acts on
What is the active site?
The active site is a part on the enzyme that fits onto the substance involved in a reaction
What happens if the substrate doesn’t match the enzymes active site
The reaction won’t be catalysed
In graphs what is on the y axis?
The rate of reaction
What is the optimum temperature
It is where the enzyme is most active
What is teen denatured
It is when the temperature in the rate gets too hot and the bonds holding the enzyme together break. The shape of the enzymes active site changes so the substrate won’t fit any more
What happens if the pH is too high?
The pH interferes with the bonds holding the enzyme together. So the shape of the active site is change and it denatures the enzyme
Explain why enzymes have an optimum pH (2 marks)
Because if the pH is too high or low it interferes with the bonds holding the enzyme together. This changes the shape of the active site and denatures the enzyme
