Unit 5 - Enzymes

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Questions and Answers

What is the term for the process by which an enzyme loses its shape due to high temperatures?

Saturation

Hydrolysis

Denaturation (correct)

Activation

At what temperature do enzymes in the human body work fastest?

42⁰C

37⁰C (correct)

100⁰C

25⁰C

What happens to enzyme activity as temperature increases from 0⁰C to the optimum?

Enzyme activity fluctuates

Enzyme activity remains constant

Enzyme activity increases (correct)

Enzyme activity decreases

What pH level is generally considered the optimum for most enzymes?

7 Signup and view all the answers

What might happen if the pH of an enzyme environment strays too far from its optimum level?

The enzyme may denature and stop activity Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary reason that substrates cannot fit into denatured enzymes?

The active site shape has been altered Signup and view all the answers

How does increasing molecular energy affect enzyme activity?

It increases the number of enzyme-substrate collisions Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements is true regarding enzyme and substrate interactions?

Enzymes can catalyze another reaction after releasing the products Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary role of enzymes in living organisms?

To speed up chemical reactions without being consumed Signup and view all the answers

What characteristic of enzymes allows them to be specific to a particular substrate?

They have a complementary shape to their substrate Signup and view all the answers

What is measured in the investigation of the effect of temperature on amylase?

The time taken for starch to be digested Signup and view all the answers

Which hypothesis explains the specificity of enzymes to their substrates?

The lock and key hypothesis Signup and view all the answers

What happens to the enzyme after it has catalyzed a reaction?

It is free to take up another substrate Signup and view all the answers

How does pH affect enzyme activity in the investigation involving amylase?

Enzyme activity varies with different pH levels and is optimal at certain points Signup and view all the answers

What conclusion can be made if iodine stays blue-black during an amylase experiment?

Amylase is ineffective at that temperature Signup and view all the answers

In which way do enzymes differ from other types of catalysts?

They are proteins with specific structures Signup and view all the answers

What is a possible outcome of a significant change in environmental conditions on enzyme activity?

Enzymes may become denatured and lose functionality Signup and view all the answers

What is the enzyme-substrate complex?

The temporary association of an enzyme with its substrate Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

5.1 Enzymes - What are Enzymes?

Enzymes are catalysts, speeding up chemical reactions without being consumed.
Enzymes are proteins.
They are essential for all living organisms, regulating metabolic reactions at a sustainable rate.
Without enzymes, digestion of a meal could take 2-3 weeks instead of 4 hours.

5.1 Enzymes - How Do Enzymes Work?

Enzymes are specific to a particular substrate (molecule in a reaction).
Enzyme shape complements the substrate's shape for efficient binding.
The product of the reaction is formed from the substrate(s) and released.

5.2 Enzyme Investigations - Investigating the Effect of Temperature on Amylase

Starch solution is heated to a set temperature.
Iodine solution is added to wells on a spotting tile to test for starch presence.
Amylase is mixed with starch, creating a solution.
A new well of iodine is added each minute to monitor the reaction.
The reaction continues until the iodine stops turning blue-black, a sign of the starch being fully broken down.

5.2 Enzyme Investigations - Investigating the Effect of pH on Amylase

Single drops of iodine solution are placed in rows on a tile.
A test tube is labelled with the pH to be tested.
2cm of amylase, 1cm of buffer solution, and 2cm of starch solution are added to the test tube.
Start a stopwatch and mix using a pipette.
After 10 seconds, a drop of the mixture is placed on a drop of iodine.
This process is repeated every 10 seconds until the iodine remains orange-brown, showing the rate of starch digestion.
The experiment is repeated for various pH values. A quicker reaction time indicates better enzyme activity at a specific pH.

5.3 Enzyme Action and Specificity

Enzymes' active site is specific to a substrate(s).
Enzymes and substrates collide randomly in solution.
The enzyme-substrate complex forms when the substrate binds to the active site, allowing the reaction.
Products are released, and the enzyme remains unchanged, ready for another reaction.

5.4 Enzymes and Temperature

Enzymes are proteins with specific shapes held by bonds.
Optimum temperature for human enzymes is 37°C.
Higher temperatures can break bonds, causing denaturation and a loss of enzyme activity.
Increasing temperatures initially increase enzyme activity because of more collisions, but at higher temperatures the increased activity decreases as the active site is deformed (denaturing).
Low temperatures decrease enzyme activity by slowing molecule movement.

5.5 Enzymes and pH

Enzymes have an optimum pH for maximum activity.
The optimum pH varies depending on the enzyme's location in the body (e.g., stomach enzymes have a lower optimum pH).
Extreme pH values can cause denaturation and loss of activity.

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Description

Explore the fascinating world of enzymes in this quiz covering their roles as catalysts, their structure as proteins, and their imperative functions in living organisms. Test your knowledge on how enzymes interact with substrates and the effects of temperature on enzyme activity, specifically amylase. Get ready to dive into the critical mechanisms that sustain life!