Topic1 Enzymes Flashcards
active site
The part of the enzyme to which a specific substrate can attach or fit on to.
amino acid
The building blocks that make up a protein molecule.
Benedict’s solution
A solution that can be used to test for the presence of a reducing sugar (or the presence of an aldehyde group).
Biuret reagent
Chemical which turns purple or mauve in the presence of protein.
calorimeter
A machine used to measure the energy involved in a chemical process.
calorimetry
Measuring the amount of heat given out or taken in by a process, such as the combustion of a fuel.
carbohydrate
Food belonging to the food group consisting of sugars, starch and cellulose. Carbohydrates are vital for energy in humans and are stored as fat if eaten in excess. In plants, carbohydrates are important for photosynthesis.
catalyst
A substance that changes the rate of a chemical reaction without being changed by the reaction itself
collagen
The most common protein found in connective tissue of animals.
concentration
The concentration of a solution tells us how much of a substance is dissolved in water. The higher the concentration, the more particles of the substance are present.
emulsion
Cloudy mixture formed between a lipid and water.
enzyme
A protein which catalyses or speeds up a chemical reaction.
fats
Naturally occurring compounds of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen. They are esters made from fatty acids and glycerol.
fructose
A monosaccharide which joins with glucose to make sucrose.
glucose
A simple sugar used by cells for respiration.
glycerol
A soluble carbohydrate which is coverted into glucose by the liver.
glycogen
The storage form of glucose in animal cells.
haemoglobin
The red protein found in red blood cells that transports oxygen round the body.
iodine solution
A solution of iodine in potassium iodide solution, also referred to as potassium triiodide solution.
joules
The unit of work or energy, written as J.
keratin
A fibrous protein found in hair and fur.
lipid
Fat or oils, composed of fatty acids and glycerol.
lock and key
Two different substrates fit into the active site of the enzyme and produce one product molecules
metabolism
All the chemical reactions in the cells of an organism, including respiration.
oils
Natural substances produced from the reaction of glycerol with fatty acids.
optimum
The best or most appropriate - for instance, the conditions under which an enzyme works best (eg temperature and pH).
pH
Scale of acidity or alkalinity. A pH (power of hydrogen) value below 7 is acidic, a pH value above 7 is alkaline.
protein
Organic compound made up of amino acid molecules. One of the three main food groups, proteins are needed by the body for cell growth and repair.
substrate
A substance on which enzymes act.
sucrose
A disaccharide made from glucose and fructose. It is used as table sugar.
synthesise
To construct a larger biological molecule from smaller ones.
Protein is broken down into
Amino acids
Starch is broken down into
Glucose
Lipids are broken down into
Fatty acids
Complex carbohydrates and protein are both
Polymers because they are made up of many similar small molecules.
