Enzyme Action

Question 1

What type of proteins are enzymes?

Answer 1

Enzymes are globular proteins

Question 2

Describe enzymes:

Answer 2

Enzymes are globular proteins, that act as catalysts

Question 3

What are catalysts?

Answer 3

Catalysts alter the rate of a chemical reaction without undergoing permanent changes themselves

Question 4

How many times can you use an enzyme?

Answer 4

Enzymes can be used repeatedly, therefore making them effective in small amounts

Question 5

What do enzymes do? What do enzymes not do?

Answer 5

Enzymes lower the activation energy in reactions, therefore allowing reactions to take place at lower temperature and speeding them up. They do not make reactions happen

Question 6

What are the conditions needed in order for a chemical reaction to occur?

Answer 6

1. Molecules must collide with sufficient energy in order to alter the arrangement of their atoms to form their products
2. The free energy of the products must be less than that of the substrates
3. Many reactions require an initial amount of energy to start

Question 7

What is the meaning of activation energy?

Answer 7

The minimum amount of energy needed to activate a chemical reaction

Question 8

What is the structure of an enzyme?

Answer 8

Enzymes have a specific 3D shape, they have a specific region which is functional. This region is known as the “active site”.

Question 9

What are the differences between the lock and key model/ Induced fit model?

Answer 9

Induced fit model: active site is almost complementary to substrate but change shape slightly

Lock and key model: the active site is a fixed shape and the substrate attaches due to random collisions