Scribd
Upload
101 views

05 - Enzymes

This document provides an overview of the key topics and concepts covered in a chapter on enzymes from an IGCSE Biology textbook. The core concepts include defining catalysts and enzymes, explaining the importance of enzymes in living organisms, and describing how enzyme activity is affected by temperature and pH changes. The extended concepts cover explaining enzyme action in more detail using terms like active site and substrate specificity, as well as providing more detailed explanations for how temperature and pH affect enzyme shape and function. Sample questions and diagrams are provided to help illustrate these concepts.

Uploaded by

Lissa Jackson
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
101 views

05 - Enzymes

This document provides an overview of the key topics and concepts covered in a chapter on enzymes from an IGCSE Biology textbook. The core concepts include defining catalysts and enzymes, explaining the importance of enzymes in living organisms, and describing how enzyme activity is affected by temperature and pH changes. The extended concepts cover explaining enzyme action in more detail using terms like active site and substrate specificity, as well as providing more detailed explanations for how temperature and pH affect enzyme shape and function. Sample questions and diagrams are provided to help illustrate these concepts.

Uploaded by

Lissa Jackson
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 6

IGCSE Biology (O610) Workbook

Chapter 05
Enzymes
The stuff you need to know in this chapter:
Core:
• Define the term catalyst as a substance that increases the rate of a chemical reaction and is not changed by the
reaction
• Define enzymes as proteins that function as biological catalysts
• Describe why enzymes are important in all living organisms in terms of reaction speed necessary to sustain life
• Describe enzyme action with reference to the complementary shape of an enzyme and its substrate and the formation
of a product (knowledge of the term active site is not required)
• Investigate and describe the effect of changes in temperature and pH on enzyme activity
• Investigate and describe the use of biological washing powders that contain enzymes

Extended:
• Explain enzyme action with reference to the active site, enzyme-substrate complex, substrate and product
• Explain the specificity of enzymes in terms of the complementary shape and fit of the active site with the substrate
• Explain the effect of changes in temperature on enzyme activity in terms of kinetic energy, shape and fit, frequency of
effective collisions and denaturation
• Explain the effect of changes in pH on enzyme activity in terms of shape and fit and denaturation

© A. Nixon 2016

For videos, worksheets and other resources go to ScienceSauceOnline.com 1


IGCSE Biology (O610) Workbook

How enzymes work


1. Define “enzyme”

2. Define “catalyst”

3. Many reactions in living organisms could happen even if enzymes weren’t there. Despite this, organisms
couldn’t live without enzymes. Explain why they are essential to life.

4. Draw a diagram to explain the “lock and key” mechanism by which enzymes function.
In your diagram label the following:
enzyme, substrate, enzyme-substrate complex, product, active site

© A. Nixon 2016

For videos, worksheets and other resources go to ScienceSauceOnline.com 2


IGCSE Biology (O610) Workbook
5. In terms shape, explain why a specific enzyme is needed for a specific substrate

6. State why enzymes are useful in soap powders for washing clothes.

7. State the name of the enzymes present in biological washing powders that break down the following food
materials:

Food molecule Type of enzyme

Protein

Starch

Lipids

© A. Nixon 2016

For videos, worksheets and other resources go to ScienceSauceOnline.com 3


IGCSE Biology (O610) Workbook

Rates of enzyme reactions
1. Describe how the movements of molecules change as temperature increases. Use the subheadings to help

Effect of increasing temperature on speed of movement

Effect of increasing temperature on number of collisions

2. State how an increase in temperature affects the number of collisions of a substrate with the active site of
an enzyme

© A. Nixon 2016

For videos, worksheets and other resources go to ScienceSauceOnline.com 4


IGCSE Biology (O610) Workbook

3. Look at the graph below. Explain the trend at each point.

Rate of reaction

c
a
b

Temperature

Explanation of trend

4. The peak of the graph shows the temperature at which the rate of reaction is fastest. What phrase
describes this temperature for this particular enzyme?

© A. Nixon 2016

For videos, worksheets and other resources go to ScienceSauceOnline.com 5


IGCSE Biology (O610) Workbook

5. Draw a graph to show the change in rate of an enzyme catalyzed reaction as pH changes. Assume that the
optimum pH for the enzyme is 7.
Remember the rules for graph drawing!

6. Students sometimes say that enzymes are “killed” by high temperatures or a certain pH. What word is
better? Explain why.

© A. Nixon 2016

For videos, worksheets and other resources go to ScienceSauceOnline.com 6

You might also like