5C Factors affecting the rate of photosynthesis

• rate


  the reed at which a chemical reaction proceeds
• plateau


  to reach a state where no further change occurs
• saturation point 


  the point at which substance (e.g. an enzyme) cannot receive more of another substance (e.g. a substrate)
• limiting factor


  a factor that prevents the rate of reaction from increasing
• limiting reagent 


  a reactant that prevents the rate of reaction from increasing
• optimal 


  the point at which for a given condition (e.g. temperature), the maximum function of an enzyme occurs also known as optimum
• denature 


  the disruption of a molecule's structure by an external; factor such as heat
• enzyme inhibitor


  a molecule that binds to and prevents an enzyme from functioning
• competitive inhibitor


  a molecule that hinders an enzyme by blocking the active site and preventing the substrate from binding
• non-competitive inhibitor


  a molecule that hinders an enzyme by binding to an allosteric site and changing the shape of the active site to prevent the substrate from binding
• allosteric site 


  the region on an enzyme that is not the active site
• reversible inhibition


  enzyme inhibition that involves weaker bonds that can be overcome
• irreversible inhibition 


  enzyme inhibition that involves stronger bonds that cannot be broken
• limiting factors include:

  • light
  • temperature
  • pH
  • carbon dioxide
  • water
  • enzyme inhibition