1.3/2.1/2.2 Flashcards
(159 cards)
Acid
A substance that produces hydrogen ions, H+, when dissolved in water
Base
A substance that produces hydroxide ion, OH-, when dissolved in water
pH Scale
A numerical scale ranging from 0 to 14 that is used to classify aqueous solutions as acidic, basic, or neutral
Neutralization Reaction
A chemical reaction between an acid and a base, producing water and a salt (ionic compound)
Buffer
A substance that minimizes changes in pH by donating or accepting hydrogen ions as needed
Oxidation
A process involving the loss of electrons
Reduction
A process involving the gain of electrons
Redox Reaction
A chemical reaction that involves the transfer of electrons from one substance to another; also called oxidation-reduction reaction
Condensation Reaction (Dehydration Synthesis)
A chemical reaction that results in the formation of a covalent bond between two molecules with the production of a water molecule
Hydrolysis Reaction
A chemical reaction that results in cleavage of a covalent bond with the addition of a water molecule
Activation Energy
The energy required to initiate a chemical reaction
Catalyst
A substance that speeds up the rate of a chemical reaction by lowering the activation energy for the reaction; is not consumed by the reaction
Enzyme
A biological macromolecule that catalyzes, or speeds up, chemical reaction in biological systems
Active Site
The site on an enzyme where the substrate binds; where the chemical reaction that is catalyzed by the enzyme takes place
Substrate
A reactant that interacts with the enzyme in an enzyme-catalyzed reaction
Enzyme-Substrate Complex
The combined structure of an enzyme with a substrate that is bound to the enzyme’s active site
List the ways in which enzymes prepare substrates for reaction (4)
1) The active sight may contain amino acid R groups that end up close to certain chemical bonds in the substrate, causing these bonds to stretch or bend (makes bonds weaker and easier to break)
2) Brings two substrates together in the correct position for a reaction to occur
3) Transfer electrons to or from the substrate (reduce or oxidize), destabilizing it
4) Add or remove hydrogen ions from the substrate (act as acid or base), destabilizing it and making it more likely to react
How are enzymes classified?
According to the type of reaction they catalyze.
-suffix “ase”
Coenzymes
Organic molecules that assist an enzyme
Cofactors
Metal ions that are required by some enzymes
What two factors affect enzyme activity?
Temperature and pH
pH Range: 6 to 8
Temperature: 37 degrees
Inhibitor
- A molecule that binds to the allosteric or active site of an enzyme and causes a decrease in the activity of that enzyme (no substrates can bind)
- stabilizes the inactive form of the enzyme
Competitive Inhibitors
Interact with the active site of the enzyme by out-competing substrate for active site
Allosteric Site
A site on an enzyme that is not the active site, where other molecules can interact with and regulate the activity of the enzyme