Enzyme Lesson

They are proteins

Catalysts speed up chemical reactions

Structure = Function: Enzymes are specific to their Substrate (reactants). Active site of the enzymes fits together with the substrate(s)

Different reactions require different enzymes

Activation energy is the energy needed to start a chemical reaction.

The less activation energy needed (smaller hill to climb) the faster the reaction will happen

Enzymes speed up reactions by lowering the activation energy

Substrate concentration

Enzyme concentration

pH, temperature, and ion concentrations

Structure (shape) = function

If enzymes lose their shape they no longer function correctly

Lower enzyme function = slower reaction rates

Factors that can affect shape & function of enzymes: Temperature, pH, salinity (ion concentration)