The Effect Of pH On Enzyme Activity

Question 1

What does pH indicate?

Answer 1

Whether a substance is acidic, alkaline or neutral

Question 2

What is the range for acidic, alkaline and neutral?

Answer 2

Acidic 0-6
Neutral 7
Alkaline 8-14

Question 3

What do acids dissociate into?

Answer 3

Protons and a negatively charged atom

Question 4

What are the acids found in the body called?

Answer 4

Organic acids

Question 5

What is a buffer?

Answer 5

Something which resists changes in pH.

Question 6

What pH do builders in the blood maintain?

Answer 6

pH 7-7.4

Question 7

How do buffers maintain pH?

Answer 7

They can accept and donate hydrogen ions to change the pH

Question 8

What an act as a buffer in the blood?

Answer 8

Haemoglobin

Question 9

Which bonds does an increase in pH affect in enzymes?

Answer 9

Hydrogen and ionic bonds

Question 10

How does pH affect the tertiary structure of an enzyme?

Answer 10

They interfere with the the hydrogen and ionic bonds causing the structure to change and breakdown

Question 11

When the tertiary structure of an enzyme breaks down what does this affect and why?

Answer 11

The rate of reaction because the active site changes

Question 12

An increase in the concentration of protons also causes what to happen?

Answer 12

The cluster around negatively charged molecules such as the R groups in amino acids.

Question 13

If the normal pH of an enzyme is restored what happens?

Answer 13

Hydrogen and ionic bonds are remade and the tertiary structure of the protein can be restored

Question 14

If there is an extreme change in the pH what is likely to happen?

Answer 14

The enzyme becomes denatured

Question 15

Is the optimum pH different for different enzymes?

Answer 15

Yes

Question 16

For amylose what is the optimum pH?

Answer 16

6.8