Question

part 4: factors that affect enzymes

1. temperature:

what happens if the temperature gets too high?

1. ph:

(hint: the enzyme may become denatured.)

1. substrate concentration:

how can extreme ph affect enzyme activity?
how does increasing the substrate amount affect enzyme speed (up to a point)?

Explanation:

1. Enzymes are proteins, and high temperatures disrupt their structure (denaturation), making them unable to function.
2. Enzymes have an optimal pH range. Extreme pH (too acidic or basic) alters their shape, reducing or stopping activity.
3. Initially, more substrate means more enzyme - substrate collisions (higher reaction rate). But enzymes are limited; beyond a point, all active sites are occupied, so rate plateaus.

Answer:

1. The enzyme becomes denatured and stops working.
2. Extreme pH can denature the enzyme, reducing or eliminating its activity.
3. Increasing substrate concentration increases enzyme speed until all enzyme active sites are occupied (then speed plateaus).