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(a) Temperature: Increasing temperature generally increases enzyme activity up to a point, as it provides more energy for molecular collisions. However, beyond the enzyme’s optimal temperature, the enzyme can denature and lose its activity. (b) pH: Each enzyme has an optimal pH range, and changes in pH can alter the enzyme’s shape, affecting its ability … Read more
The activation energy is the energy required to initiate a chemical reaction. For a reaction to occur, reactant molecules must collide with enough energy to break bonds and form new ones. Enzymes lower the activation energy by providing an alternative pathway for the reaction with a lower energy barrier. This is achieved by binding to … Read more
An enzyme is a biological catalyst, usually a protein, that speeds up the rate of a specific biochemical reaction by lowering the activation energy. Enzymes are highly specific for their substrates, meaning they catalyze only one type of reaction or work on one specific substrate. Their characteristics include: Specificity: Each enzyme works on a specific … Read more
Extreme pH conditions can cause enzymes to denature, altering their three-dimensional structure. This change prevents the enzyme from binding effectively with its substrate, reducing or stopping the enzyme’s activity. Related Questions: Why are enzymes called biological catalysts? Name the factors affecting enzyme activity. At what pH do pepsin and trypsin enzymes act the best? … Read more
NADPH is produced in the light-dependent reactions of photosynthesis and is used in the Calvin cycle to reduce carbon dioxide into glucose. It acts as a carrier of electrons and protons, which are necessary for the synthesis of carbohydrates. Related Questions: Why are enzymes called biological catalysts? Name the factors affecting enzyme activity. At … Read more
Enzymes are highly specific because their active sites have a specific shape that matches only one type of substrate molecule. This specificity ensures that enzymes catalyze only particular reactions, preventing unintended chemical processes. Related Questions: Why are enzymes called biological catalysts? Name the factors affecting enzyme activity. At what pH do pepsin and trypsin … Read more
Temperature increases the rate of enzyme activity up to an optimal point. Beyond this optimal temperature, enzyme activity decreases as the enzyme denatures due to excessive heat, changing its shape and reducing its efficiency. Related Questions: Why are enzymes called biological catalysts? Name the factors affecting enzyme activity. At what pH do pepsin and … Read more
Amylase is an enzyme that breaks down starch into simpler sugars such as maltose and glucose. It is found in saliva and the pancreas and plays a key role in the digestion of carbohydrates. Related Questions: Why are enzymes called biological catalysts? Name the factors affecting enzyme activity. At what pH do pepsin and trypsin … Read more
Photosynthesis and aerobic respiration are interlinked because the products of one process are the reactants of the other. In photosynthesis, plants produce oxygen and glucose using sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide. In aerobic respiration, organisms (including plants) use oxygen and glucose to produce carbon dioxide, water, and ATP. This creates a cycle where the oxygen … Read more
The dark reactions, also known as the Calvin cycle, are called “dark” because they do not require light directly. These reactions occur in the stroma of the chloroplast and use ATP and NADPH (produced in the light reactions) to convert carbon dioxide into glucose. Related Questions: Why are enzymes called biological catalysts? Name the factors … Read more