Enzymes

• What are enzymes classified as?

  Catalysts produced by living things
• Why do living things need enzymes?

  To control chemical reactions inside them
• How can you speed up a reaction?

  By increasing the temperature
• What is a downside of increasing temperature to speed up reactions?

  It can also speed up unwanted reactions
• What do enzymes reduce the need for?

  High temperatures
• What are enzymes made of?

  Chains of amino acids
• Why do enzymes have special shapes?

  To catalyse specific reactions
• What is the active site of an enzyme?

  The site where substrates bind
• What happens if the substrate doesn't match the enzyme's active site?

  The reaction cannot occur
• How does temperature affect enzyme-catalysed reactions?

  Higher temperatures increase reaction rates initially
• What happens to enzymes at very high temperatures?

  Some bonds holding them together break
• What is the optimal pH for most enzymes?

  pH 7
• What happens if the pH is too high or too low for an enzyme?

  It disrupts the bonds holding the enzyme together
• What is pepsin?

  An enzyme that breaks down proteins
• Where does pepsin work best?

  In acidic conditions
• What are the key terms related to enzymes that students should remember for exams?

  • Enzymes
  • Catalysts
  • Active site
  • Denatured
• Why is it important to know about enzymes for exams?

  They are crucial for biological reactions
• What is the significance of the phrase "if only enzymes could speed up revision"?

  It highlights the efficiency of enzymes