Enzyme Action

• What are enzymes?


  Biological catalysts that speed up the rate of chemical reactions without being used up or changed.
• What kind of proteins are enzymes?

  Globular proteins.
• How do enzymes speed up a chemical reaction?

  By lowering the activation enthalpy of the reaction.
• What is the activation enthalpy of a reaction?

  The minimum amount of energy needed to activate the reaction.
• What are intracellular enzymes?

  Enzymes that are produced and function inside a cell.
• What are extracellular enzymes?

  Enzymes that are secreted by cells and catalyse reactions outside of cells.
• What can denature an enzyme?

  Extremes of heat or pH.
• What must happen for and an enzyme reaction to occur?

  The substrate must collide with the enzymes active site with enough energy.
• How do enzymes lower the activation enthalpy?

  They provide an alternative energy pathway.
• What do enzymes do to lower the activation enthalpy?

  Influence the stability of the substrates bonds making it more reactive.