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MassachusettsBiologyQuick questions
Module 1: Chemistry of life and cells
Quick questions on Enzymes and biochemical reactions - MA High School Biology MCAS Module 1
5short Q&A pairs drawn directly from our worked dot-point answer. For full context and worked exam questions, read the parent dot-point page.
What is temperature?Show answer
As temperature rises, molecules move faster and collide more often, so the reaction rate increases up to an optimum (about 37 degrees Celsius for human enzymes). Above the optimum, the high temperature denatures the enzyme: the protein unfolds, the active site loses its shape, and the substrate no longer fits, so the rate falls sharply to zero. A graph of rate against temperature is therefore a peak, not a straight line.
What is pH?Show answer
Each enzyme has an optimum pH. Move too far from it in either direction and the active site changes shape (the enzyme can denature), so activity drops. Stomach protease works best near pH 2; many other human enzymes work best near pH 7.
What is substrate concentration?Show answer
As substrate concentration rises, the rate increases because more substrate molecules can meet enzymes. Eventually all the active sites are busy (the enzymes are saturated), and the rate levels off; adding more substrate then makes no difference.
What is q1?Show answer
State what activation energy is and what an enzyme does to it. [2]
What is q2?Show answer
Explain why an enzyme is specific to one substrate. [2]
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