ENZYMES - GRADE – 9 NOTES

Catalyst: is a substance that increases the rate of a chemical reaction and is not
changed by the reaction.
Enzyme: is a protein that functions as a biological catalyst.
Enzymes, like catalysts, can be used over and over again because they are not used
up during the reaction and only a small amount is needed to speed the reaction up.

The enzymes and substrate molecules have complementary shapes (like

adjacent pieces of a jigsaw) so they fit together.
Substrate: the substance on which the enzyme acts.
Products: the molecules produced.
Anabolic reaction: reactions in which large molecules are built up from smaller
molecules.
Catabolic reaction: reactions that splits large molecules into smaller ones.
Enzyme-substrate complex: is formed temporarily when the enzyme combines with
the substrate.
Enzymes are specific, this means simply that an enzyme which normally acts on one
substance will not act on a different one.

Q. Explain why the shape of an enzyme is important.3

correct ref to active site ;
enzyme must be complementary shape to, substrate / alcohol ;
to make enzyme – substrate complex / to allow substrate to bind to
enzyme ;
ref to only fits one substrate / specific to one substrate ;
The enzyme has a shape called the active site, which exactly fits the substances on
which it acts. The shape of the active site of the enzyme molecule and the substrate
molecules are complementary.
Effect of temperature:

The rate of an enzyme-catalysed reaction increases as the temperature increases.

However, at high temperatures the rate decreases again because the enzyme
becomes denatured and can no longer function as a biological catalyst.

As the temperature is increased, the molecules gain more kinetic energy, so they
move faster and there is a greater chance of collisions happening. Therefore the rate
of reaction increases.

Above the optimum temperature the reaction slows down. This is because enzyme
molecules are proteins. Proteins molecules start to lose their shape at higher
temperatures, so the active site becomes deformed.

Substrate molecules cannot fit together with the enzyme, stopping the reaction.
(Denaturation)

Q. Explain why an increase in temperature causes an increase in

enzyme activity.3

increased kinetic energy ;

molecules move faster ;
increased frequency of collisions ;
increased number of successful collisions ;
Effects of pH:

Changes in pH alter the shape of an enzyme’s active site. Different enzymes work
best at different pH values.

The optimum pH for an enzyme depends on where it normally works. For example,
intestinal enzymes have an optimum pH of about 7.5, but stomach enzymes have
an optimum pH of about 2.
Each enzyme has an optimum pH, if this pH changes, the shape of the active site of
the enzyme is changed (Denature), thus the substrate will not be able to fit in it, and
the enzyme becomes useless