Chemical Reactions and Enzymes

Front

What is an enzyme?

Back

A protein that acts as a catalyst to speed up chemical reactions by lowering the activation energy.

Front

What does it mean for an enzyme to denature?

Back

Denaturation refers to the process where an enzyme loses its three-dimensional structure, resulting in a loss of function.

Front

What is activation energy?

Back

The minimum energy required for a chemical reaction to occur.

Front

How do enzymes affect activation energy?

Back

Enzymes lower the activation energy required for a reaction, allowing it to proceed more quickly.

Front

What are substrates in a chemical reaction?

Back

Substrates are the reactants that enzymes act upon in a chemical reaction.

Front

What is the role of enzymes in living organisms?

Back

Enzymes are essential for facilitating biochemical reactions necessary for life, such as digestion and metabolism.

Front

What factors can affect enzyme activity?

Back

Factors include temperature, pH, substrate concentration, and the presence of inhibitors or activators.

Front

What is an enzyme inhibitor?

Back

A substance that decreases or prevents the activity of an enzyme.

Front

What is the difference between competitive and non-competitive inhibitors?

Back

Competitive inhibitors bind to the active site of the enzyme, while non-competitive inhibitors bind to a different site, altering the enzyme's function.

Front

What is enzyme specificity?

Back

The concept that each enzyme only catalyzes a specific reaction or type of reaction.