Enzymes

• What are enzymes essential for in living organisms?

  They facilitate chemical reactions.
• What role do enzymes play in chemical reactions?

  Enzymes act as catalysts to speed up reactions.
• What are enzymes made of?

  Enzymes are large proteins.
• How do catalysts function in chemical reactions?

  Catalysts increase the speed of a reaction without being changed or used up.
• What is the active site of an enzyme?

  The active site is a unique shape where the substrate fits for the enzyme to work.
• Why are enzymes considered picky in their function?

  They usually only catalyse one specific reaction.
• What does the 'lock and key' model of enzyme action illustrate?

  • The specific fit between an enzyme's active site and its substrate
  • Enzymes are selective and only catalyse specific reactions
• How does temperature affect enzyme activity?

  A higher temperature increases the reaction rate initially.
• What happens to an enzyme if the temperature gets too high?

  The bonds holding the enzyme together break, changing its shape.
• What is meant by an enzyme being denatured?

  It means the enzyme's active site shape changes, preventing substrate binding.
• What is the optimum temperature for an enzyme?

  It is the temperature at which the enzyme works best.
• How does pH affect enzyme activity?

  pH can affect the bonds holding the enzyme together.
• What happens if the pH is too high or too low for an enzyme?

  It changes the shape of the active site and denatures the enzyme.
• What is the optimum pH for an enzyme?

  It is the pH at which the enzyme works best.
• What are the key terms related to enzyme function that students should remember for exams?

  • Active site
  • Denatured
  • Catalyst
  • Optimum temperature
  • Optimum pH
• Why is it important to use terms like 'active site' and 'denatured' in exams?

  Examiners appreciate the use of specific scientific terminology.
• What is the consequence of an enzyme being denatured due to pH changes?

  The substrate will no longer fit into the active site.
• how is an enzyme denatured
• Describe how protein and fat are digested?

  Protein: Stomach (pepsin) and small intestine (proteases) Fat: Small intestine (lipases)