Enzymes

• Enzymes have special shapes so they can catalyse reactions
• Enzymes need the right temperature and pH
• Enzymes have an optimal temperature and pH that they work best at
• If the temperature or pH is too high or too low, it interferes with the bonds holding the enzyme together
• This changes the shape of the enzyme's active site, so it works less efficiently
• The enzyme is said to be denatured
• Enzymes work best at around pH 7
• Pepsin is an enzyme used to break down proteins
• Pepsin works best at around pH 2, which means it's well-suited to the acidic conditions in the stomach
• If only enzymes could speed up revision...