enzymes

Enzymes

What are they?

• Enzymes are CATALYSTS produced by living things
• A catalyst to remind you, is a substance that increases the chemical rate of reaction without making any change to itself
• These reactions can be sped up more by applying heat, therefore changing the conditions that they can react in
• If the temperature goes to high however, they will start to denature (basically melting but don't say that in the exam, use the fancy biology word)
• Ill explain that bit more further on

what are they doing?

• Enzymes break down larger molecules into smaller molecules.
• For example AMYLASE takes a starch chain, and breaks it down into sugars
• this is how it happens:
• A substrate will enter the active site of an enzyme
• the reaction will then cut the substrate in half,
• therefore creating smaller molecule
• Its almost like a key in a lock
• 

Temperatures effect upon an enzyme

• Changing the temperature can have a positive and negative effect upon enzymes
• If you apply enough temperature to get it to the perfect heat of 37.5 degrees, The enzymes will work a lot faster (like a catalyst)
• If you apply to much heat and push it too far, the enzymes will begin to denature and break down, causing the reaction speed to drop
• 

pH effect upon enzymes

• pH can also change the effect of enzymes
• If it is too high or too low, the pH messes with the bonds holding the enzymes together.
• This again denatures the active site of the enzyme, meaning it can't carry out its function any more
• The optimum pH for enzymes is neutral 7, but not all the time
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