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Questions and Answers
What is metabolism primarily responsible for in an organism?
What is metabolism primarily responsible for in an organism?
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What is the primary function of enzymes in chemical reactions?
What is the primary function of enzymes in chemical reactions?
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Which statement accurately describes catabolic reactions?
Which statement accurately describes catabolic reactions?
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What happens to an enzyme's active site during denaturation?
What happens to an enzyme's active site during denaturation?
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Which type of reaction absorbs energy, often resulting in a temperature drop?
Which type of reaction absorbs energy, often resulting in a temperature drop?
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How does increasing substrate concentration affect the rate of a reaction?
How does increasing substrate concentration affect the rate of a reaction?
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In photosynthesis, which are the reactants used in the chemical reaction?
In photosynthesis, which are the reactants used in the chemical reaction?
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What is the main role of enzymes in biochemical reactions?
What is the main role of enzymes in biochemical reactions?
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Which of the following factors can cause denaturation of an enzyme?
Which of the following factors can cause denaturation of an enzyme?
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Which of the following best describes exergonic reactions?
Which of the following best describes exergonic reactions?
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What role do competitive inhibitors play in enzyme activity?
What role do competitive inhibitors play in enzyme activity?
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What defines the term 'activation energy' in a chemical reaction?
What defines the term 'activation energy' in a chemical reaction?
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What is an induced fit in the context of enzyme function?
What is an induced fit in the context of enzyme function?
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Which of the following statements about enzyme specificity is true?
Which of the following statements about enzyme specificity is true?
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What is the outcome of cellular respiration?
What is the outcome of cellular respiration?
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What effect does increasing temperature typically have on enzyme activity?
What effect does increasing temperature typically have on enzyme activity?
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Which characteristic is true of anabolic reactions?
Which characteristic is true of anabolic reactions?
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What is the term for the minimum energy required for a chemical reaction to occur?
What is the term for the minimum energy required for a chemical reaction to occur?
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What happens to energy during a chemical reaction, according to the law of conservation of energy?
What happens to energy during a chemical reaction, according to the law of conservation of energy?
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Which characteristic of enzymes allows them to be reused multiple times in reactions?
Which characteristic of enzymes allows them to be reused multiple times in reactions?
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Study Notes
Metabolism
- Metabolism is all the chemical reactions within each cell of an organism
- It provides energy for life processes and creates key molecules
- Chemical reactions involve breaking and forming bonds between substances
- Reactions absorb or release energy; breaking a bond absorbs energy, forming a bond releases energy
- The law of conservation of energy applies; energy isn't lost, it changes form (e.g. heat, light)
Metabolic Reactions
- Biochemical reactions are either catabolic or anabolic
- Catabolic reactions break down larger molecules into simpler compounds, releasing energy (exergonic)
- Anabolic reactions build larger molecules from smaller ones, consuming energy (endergonic)
- All reactions require activation energy to start — the minimum energy needed for a reaction to occur
Chemical Reactions
- Reactants are the substances changed during a chemical reaction
- Products are the substances formed during a chemical reaction
- Reactions can either absorb (endothermic) or release (exothermic) energy
Types of Reactions
- Endothermic reactions absorb energy (e.g., photosynthesis—light energy is stored as chemical energy in sugar)
- Exothermic reactions release energy (e.g., cellular respiration—chemical energy in sugar is converted to chemical energy released as ATP)
Enzymes
- Metabolic reactions are controlled by enzymes—mostly proteins
- Enzymes speed up biochemical reactions by lowering activation energy
- They act as catalysts, speeding up reactions without being changed themselves
- Enzymes are specific, binding to specific reactants (substrates) at their active site
- Enzymes are not changed during the reaction and can be reused
- Enzymes are crucial for regulating life processes in all organisms. Binding fits into an active site and then creates an induced fit within the enzyme and substrate
Enzyme Specificity and Function
- Enzymes have very specific active sites that can only fit specific substrates
- Once a substrate connects, a tighter binding (induced fit) occurs
- Enzymes can break bonds in substrates to form new products
- Enzymes can form bonds between substrates to form new products
Enzyme Denaturation
- An enzyme's active site can be deformed, losing its shape and biological activity, due to environmental changes like extreme pH, temperature, or ion strength
- Some enzymes can be renatured, but not always
Factors Affecting Reaction Rate
- Temperature—higher temperatures increase the rate of reaction as molecules move faster and collide more often
- pH—enzymes work best at specific pH values, and changes in pH can affect reaction speed
- Substrate concentration—higher substrate concentration leads to faster reactions due to increased collisions
- Catalysts (enzymes)—lower activation energy needed for reactions to start, thereby increasing the reaction rate
- Competitive inhibitors—slow down reactions by competing with substrates for the active site on the enzyme
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Description
Test your knowledge on metabolism and the various types of biochemical reactions. This quiz covers the principles of catabolic and anabolic reactions, the law of conservation of energy, and the processes involved in chemical reactions. Perfect for students studying biology or biochemistry!
