Name: ( ) Class: Date:

6 Metabolism and Enzymes

SELF-EVALUATION

Put a ‘’ in the appropriate boxes to indicate your understanding of each of the following sections.

(Note: 1 represents ‘do not understand at all’; and 5 represents ‘fully understand’.)

Level of understanding
Sections
1 2 3 4 5

6.1 Metabolism □ □ □ □ □

6.2 The role of enzymes in metabolism □ □ □ □ □

6.3 The nature and properties of enzymes □ □ □ □ □

6.4 The mechanism of enzyme action □ □ □ □ □

6.5 What factors affect the rate of enzyme reactions? □ □ □ □ □

6.6 Applications of enzymes in everyday life □ □ □ □ □

Score: / 30

You can try the following exercise if your score is above 15. Otherwise you would have to do further
revision before doing the exercise.

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PART I CONSOLIDATION EXERCISE Part total: / 31

 6.1 Metabolism Marks: /5

True or false (5 marks)

For each of the following statements, determine whether it is true (T) or false (F).

1. Plants have anabolism but not catabolism because plants can carry out photosynthesis. F

2. Metabolism is the sum of all the chemical reactions in the body of an organism. F

3. Children have a higher metabolic rate than the elderly people. T

4. Respiration is an example of catabolism. F

5. Formation of starch from glucose in leaves is an example of anabolism. F

 6.2 The role of enzymes in metabolism Marks: / 10

 6.3 The nature and properties of enzymes

A. Matching (5 marks)

The following statements are about enzymes. Match column P with column Q and put the appropriate
letter in the box provided.

Column P Column Q

1. Enzymes speed up the rate of chemical A. could not occur without enzymes.
□
D
reactions B. a specific type of molecule.

2. All enzymes are □ C. proteins in nature.

3. Each type of enzyme breaks down □: D. without being used up.

E. large food molecules into smaller ones.

4. The biochemical reactions that keep you
□
A
alive

5. Digestive enzymes break down □

E

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B. True or false (5 marks)

For each of the following statements, determine whether it is true (T) or false (F).

1. An enzyme cannot work once it leaves a cell. F

2. Catalase exists in liver cells only. F

3. The molecular size of enzymes decreases at the end of a reaction. F

4. Enzymes are still present at the end of a reaction. T

5. There are a great variety of enzymes in each cell. T

 6.4 The mechanism of enzyme action Marks: /7

A. Fill in the blanks (5 marks)

Enzymes are (a) specific in action and catalyse only one kind of reaction. Each enzyme has
one or more (b) active sites with specific shapes. In an enzyme-controlled reaction,
the substance which the enzyme acts on is the (c) substrate and the substances formed at the
end of the reaction are known as (d) products . The enzyme molecule and the substance it acts
on fit together very precisely, giving rise to the (e) look and
- -

key hypothesis of enzyme action.

B. Multiple choice (2 marks)

Directions: The following two questions refer to the diagram below, which is a diagrammatic
representation of an enzyme catalysed reaction.

P Q S

P Q S

R R R
R

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1. Which of the following substances can be used again?

A. P
B. Q
C. R
D. S
□
C

2. Which of the following statement can be deduced from the diagram?

(1) Enzyme action is specific.

(2) The reaction is reversible.
(3) Enzymes are inactive at low temperatures.

A. (1) and (2) only

B. (1) and (3) only
C. (2) and (3) only
D. (1), (2) and (3)
□
A

 6.5 What factors affect the rate of enzyme

Marks: /4
reactions?
Multiple choice (4 marks)

1. What would happen when an enzyme with an optimum pH of 8.5 is added to a solution with a pH
of 4?

(1) The enzyme may be denatured.

(2) The enzyme activity would be lower at pH 4 than pH 8.5.
(3) The enzyme activity would be the same at both pH values.

A. (1) only
B. (1) and (2) only
C. (1) and (3) only
D. (2) and (3) only
□
B

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Directions: Questions 2 and 3 refer to the graph below which shows the rate of reactions catalysed by
enzymes X, Y and Z over a range of pH values.

enzyme Z

Rate of reaction enzyme Y

enzyme X

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

2. The rates of the reactions catalysed by enzymes X and Y are equal at

A. pH 4.
B. pH 5.5.
C. pH 6.5.
D. pH 7.
□
B

3. Which of the following is the most probable conclusion that can be drawn from the graph?

(1) The optimum pH values for enzymes X, Y and Z are 4, 7 and 8.5 respectively.
(2) Enzyme X is found in the stomach and enzyme Y is found in the mouth.
(3) Enzyme Z is more active than enzyme X and enzyme Y.

A. (1) only
B. (1) and (2) only
C. (1) and (3) only
D. (1), (2) and (3)
□
A

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4. The graph below shows the reaction rate of an enzyme without inhibition and that of the same
enzyme in the presence of an inhibitor. Which curve represents the effect of a non-competitive
inhibitor?

(1)
no inhibition

Rate of reaction (2)

(3)
(4)

Substrate concentration

A. (1)
B. (2)
C. (3)
D. (4)
□
D

 6.6 Applications of enzymes in everyday life Marks: /5

True or false (5 marks)

For each of the following statements, determine whether it is true (T) or false (F).

1. Meat tenderisers contain proteases which break down all the proteins in meat into F

amino acids.

2. Enzymes are used to break down the cellulose cell walls within fruits into sugar. This F
can maximise the ‘yield’ in fruit juice manufacture.

3. Enzymes are used to produce fructose from starch. Fructose is cheaper and much T

sweeter than sucrose. It is added to some processed foods and drinks.

4. As fructose is much sweeter than sucrose, it can be used in smaller quantities in T

slimming foods.

5. The enzymes added in contact lens cleaners can kill the bacteria that may grow on the F
lens.

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PART II CHAPTER EXERCISE Part total: / 77

A. Multiple choice Marks: / 13

1. An enzyme is a

A. living molecule produced by glands to digest food in the alimentary canal.

B. living molecule produced by cells to synthesise complex molecules from simpler ones.
C. protein molecule produced by living cells to catalyse a particular biochemical reaction.
D. protein molecule produced by living cells to catalyse a particular biochemical reaction at
37oC.
□

:
Directions: Questions 2 to 4 refer to the diagram below which shows an experiment. Equal volumes of
amylase solution were added to each of the four test tubes. All the tubes were kept at 40oC
and the contents were maintained at pH 7.

amylase added to each tube

At the W X Y Z
beginning
cloudy cloudy clear clear
egg white starch sucrose cooking
suspension suspension solution oil

After W X Y Z
30 minutes
cloudy clear clear clear
egg white maltose sucrose cooking
suspension solution solution oil

2. Which of the following is the factor being investigated?

A. pH
B. enzyme
C. temperature
D. substrate
□

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3. Which of the following is the conclusion of this experiment?

A. Amylase works best at 40oC.

B. Amylase can digest all the food substances except egg white.
C. Amylase is specific to its substrate.
D. Amylase works best at pH 7.
□
o

4. If lipase were used instead of amylase, which tube would contain acidic contents after 30 minutes?

A. W
B. X
C. Y
D. Z
□

:
5. An experiment was carried out to investigate the effects of two metals on enzyme activities. An
enzyme and its substrate were incubated at 40oC with various concentrations of either metal X or
metal Y. The time taken for the complete breakdown of the substrate was measured. The results
were recorded in the table below.

Time needed to break down the substrate (seconds)

Concentration (ppm)
Metal X Metal Y
0 57 57
2 60 33
4 420 69
6 1500 339

(ppm = parts per million)

Which of the following correctly describes the effects of high concentration of these metals
on enzyme activity?

High concentration of metal X High concentration of metal Y

A. inhibited promoted
B. inhibited inhibited
C. promoted inhibited
D. promoted promoted
□

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6. Which of the following graphs shows how the rate of reaction of an enzyme in the stomach is
affected by pH?

A. B.

enzyme activity
enzyme activity

1 7 14 1 7 14
pH pH

C. D.

enzyme activity
enzyme activity

1 7 14 1 7 14
pH pH

:
□

7. Experiments were carried out using the apparatus below.

rubber cap
oxygen
hydrogen peroxide
solution
potato disc

In which of the following conditions was oxygen produced most rapidly?

Number of potato discs Condition of potato discs

A. 5 boiled
B. 10 boiled
C. 5 raw
D. 10 raw
□
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8. Consider the three test tubes as shown below.

X Y Z

milk + boiled milk + milk +

lipase + lipase + boiled lipase +
pH indicator pH indicator pH indicator

Full cream milk contains about 3.5% milk fat. Lipase speeds up the breakdown of fat. The pH
value of the contents of each tube was measured at the beginning and after 30 minutes. What
changes in pH value would take place?

Tube X Tube Y Tube Z

A. decreased decreased decreased
B. increased increased increased
C. decreased decreased no change
D. increased increased no change
□

:
9. Which of the following graphs shows the effect of substrate concentration on enzyme activity?

A. B.
enzyme activity
enzyme activity

substrate concentration substrate concentration

C. D.
enzyme activity
enzyme activity

substrate concentration substrate concentration

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10. Which of the following can reduce the effect of a competitive inhibitor on enzymes?

(1) increasing the substrate concentration

(2) adding another non-competitive inhibitor
(3) decreasing the temperature at which the reaction takes place

A. (1) only
B. (1) and (2) only
C. (1) and (3) only
D. (1), (2) and (3)
A
□

11. Which of the following can cause denaturation of enzymes?

(1) high temperature

(2) low temperature
(3) presence of a competitive inhibitor

A. (1) only
B. (1) and (2) only
C. (1) and (3) only
D. (1), (2) and (3)
A
□

12. Seeds produce some enzymes when they germinate. Which of the following is the main function of
these enzymes?

A. to synthesise starch from sugars for storage

B. to increase the rate of water absorption in the root
C. to break down insoluble food into soluble forms
D. to carry out photosynthesis
□

:
13. Which of the following processes in the human body does not require enzymes?

A. the breakdown of glucose during respiration

B. the emulsification of lipids by bile salts to form smaller droplets
C. the breakdown of starch into maltose in the mouth
D. the conversion of glucose to glycogen in the liver
□

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B. Short questions Marks: / 16

1. Complete the table below which shows the main digestive enzymes in the human body. (7 marks)

Name of enzyme Substrate Product(s)

protease (a) proteins (b) amino acid

(c) starch (d) maltose

amylase

(e) lipase lipids (f) fatty acids and (g) glycerol

2. The graph below shows the effect of substrate concentration on enzyme activity.

Z
enzyme activity

substrate concentration

(a) The enzyme concentration was kept constant in the experiment. Identify the factor that was
varied by the experimenter. (1 mark)

substrate concentration
(b) What was the effect of increasing this factor over region XY of the graph? (1 mark)

Enzyme activity
(c) Suggest a factor limiting the rate of reaction at point Z. (1 mark)

Enzyme concentration
(d) Which letter on the graph represents the situation where

(i) all the active sites of the enzymes are occupied. (1 mark)

(ii) almost all the active sites are available for the attachment of substrate molecules. (1 mark)
✗

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3. Explain each of the following situations in terms of enzymes.

(a) Very high fevers with body temperature over 42oC are fatal to human beings. (2 marks)

Essential enzymes are denatured .

no
longer be able to catalyse
reactions that are essential for life to continue .

(b) Vinegar can be used to preserve food. (2 marks)

Microorganisms . . .

C. Structured questions Marks: / 33

1. The diagram below shows a biochemical pathway.

Enzyme P Enzyme Q
Substance X Substance Y Substance Z

(a) What is enzyme P’s

(i) substrate? (1 mark)

(ii) product? (1 mark)

(b)

:
What is enzyme Q’s

(i) substrate? (1 mark)

(ii) product? (1 mark)

(c) Enzyme P is affected by an inhibitor. If equal concentrations of substances X, Y and Z are

put into a container containing enzymes P and Q and a high concentration of the inhibitor is
added, what will happen to the concentrations of substances X, Y and Z? (3 marks)

✗ has no
change .

Y will decrease ,

2 will increase
(Total: 7 marks)
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2. An experiment was carried out to investigate the effect of amylase on starch.

X Y Z

starch solution starch solution + starch solution +

o
(at 20 C) amylase solution amylase solution
o o
(at 20 C) (at 40 C)

Samples were taken from each tube every minute and added to iodine solution on a spotting tile.

blue black brown blue black

brown

X Y Z

(a) What effect does amylase have on starch? Give evidence for this. (3 marks)

Amylase breaks down starch .

thx
, amylase is absent and starch still exists .

disappearance of starch
52 the presence of amylase leads to the
'

In
.

(b) What is the effect of temperature on the action of amylase? Give evidence for this. (2 marks)

The increase in temperature leads to higher enzyme activity .

Y faster
In 2 , the temperature is
higher than that in , starch also disappears .

(c) What is the product when amylase is reacted with starch? How can you show its presence?
(4 marks)
Maltose .

conduct Benedict's Test ,

a brick-red precipitate is formed .

(Total: 9 marks)

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3. The enzyme sucrase can speed up the digestion of sucrose to give glucose and fructose.

sucrase
sucrose glucose ＋ fructose

A student carried out an experiment to study the effect of increasing the concentration of sucrase
on the rate of this reaction. He kept the concentration of sucrose constant. He used seven different
concentrations of sucrase. For each of the enzyme samples, he measured the time taken for the
sucrose to be completely digested. All the reactions were carried out at 40 oC. The results are
shown in the table below.

Sucrase concentration (%) Time required to digest the sucrose (seconds)

0.2 560
0.4 420
0.6 320
0.8 220
1.0 150
1.2 120
1.4 100

(a) Plot a graph to show the effect of sucrase concentration on the rate of sucrose digestion.
(4 marks)

600 -

500 -

✗
Time 400 -

required /s) X
300
-

✗
200 -

×
100 ? ✗

if I A
144>
.
- -

1 A 1
☐ 0.6 0.8 1.0 1.2
0.2 0.4
sucrose concentration [%)

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(b) With reference to your graph, describe the effect of increasing the concentration of sucrase
on the rate of sucrose digestion. (2 marks)

The higher the sucrose concentration , the shorter time to digest

sucrose

(c) Explain why all the reactions were carried out at 40oC. (1 mark)

It's the enzyme's optimum temperature

.

(d) Describe how the temperature can be kept constant at 40oC. (1 mark)

In a water bath .

(e) What would be the results if the experiment were carried out at 80oC? Give a reason.
(2 marks)
Sucrose still exist .

(Total: 10 marks)

4. The enzyme amylase breaks down starch. A student carried out an investigation to study the effect
of pH on amylase action by using a starch agar plate. Six wells were cut into the agar plate by
using a cork borer. Each well contained the same volume and concentration of amylase, and a
buffer solution of different pH. The agar plate was then left in the incubator at 40oC for 24 hours.

amylase
petri dish
starch agar

well
pH 1 pH 1

After 24 hours

pH 11 pH 3 pH 11 pH 3

pH 9 pH 5 pH 9 pH 5
pH 7 clear zone pH 7

after the plate is flooded

with iodine solution

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(a) How could the student use these results to compare the activity of amylase at different pH
values? (2 marks)

Compare the areas of the clear zones .

(b) The student concluded that the optimum pH for amylase activity was 7. However, this
conclusion may not be valid. Explain why. (1 mark)
band
smatter intervals between 911 ,
such as 8 is not tested .

and 5,7
(c) Explain the result obtained at pH 11. (2 marks)

The is denatured , the substrate cant bind with the

enzyme
active site .

(d) How can you design a control for this experiment? (2 marks)

Use boiled enzyme .

(Total: 7 marks)

D. Essay type question Marks: / 15

1. Give an account of the factors that affect enzyme activity under the following headings.
(a) enzyme concentration (3 marks)
(b) substrate concentration (3 marks)
(c) inhibition (6 marks)
(Total: 12+3 marks)

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(a) An increase in enzyme concentration leads to a higher enzyme activity .

Assuming that substrate concentration is in excess , or else the enzyme activity

will decrease after the substrate is being used up .

(b) An increase in substrate concentration leads to an increase in enzyme activity .

Assuming enzyme concentration is sufficient as if all the active sites of

occupied the will decrease
enzyme is ,
enzyme activity .

a) A competitive inhibitor has a similar structure to the substrate .

They will compete with substrate to bind with the enzyme , preventing the

substrate to bind to the enzyme Hence

,
. it prevents the formation of

enzyme substrate
-

complex .