Limiting Factors

Question 1

What is an enzyme?

Answer 1

A biological catalyst that speeds up chemical reactions in living organisms

Enzymes lower the activation energy needed for reactions and are typically proteins.

Question 2

What effect does temperature have on enzyme activity?

Answer 2

↑ temp = ↑ reaction rate, enzymes work best at an optimum temperature, ~37°C in humans

Enzymes become inactive at low and high temperatures, and can denature at high temperatures (~40°C+ in mammals).

Question 3

At what temperature do enzymes typically work best in humans?

Answer 3

~37°C

Question 4

What happens to enzymes at low and high temperatures?

Answer 4

Enzymes become inactive

At high temperatures, enzymes can denature.

Question 5

What is denaturation in the context of enzymes?

Answer 5

The process where proteins lose their specific structure due to high temperatures

Question 6

What is the relationship between pH and enzyme activity?

Answer 6

Enzymes work best at a specific pH; the pH affects the charges on the enzyme

Changes in pH can cause the amino acid chain of an enzyme to coil or uncoil.

Question 7

What does a specific pH do to the enzyme’s structure?

Answer 7

It affects the charges, causing the amino acid chain to coil or uncoil

Question 8

Fill in the blank: Enzymes are inactive at _______ and _______ temperatures.

Answer 8

low and high

Question 9

What is the optimum temperature for enzyme activity in humans?

Answer 9

37°C

Question 10

True or False: Enzymes can function at any temperature.

Answer 10

False

Question 11

List two factors that affect enzyme activity.

Answer 11

• Temperature
• pH