ENZYMES LOWER the ACTIVATION ENERGY for reactions
What is a "CATALYST"
-A catalyst is a molecule or substance that can LOWER the ACTIVATION energy of a reaction.
How do enzymes LOWER ACTIVATION ENERGY?
-An enzyme binds tightly to one or more molecules and holds them in a precise configuration that LOWERS the ACTIVATION ENERGY.
How does an "ENZYME" INCREASE the RATE of a reaction?
-An enzyme increases the rate of a reaction by LOWERING the ACTIVATION ENERGY barrier. *Enzymes can have enormous effects on the rate of reactions, speeding them up by as much as a factor of 10^14.
What is used to "BREAK COVALENT BONDS"?
-ENZYMES!!
What role do "ENZYMES" play in a given reaction?
-Enzymes lower the activation energy for reactions.
Facts about Enzymes:
-Enzymes tightly control the chemistry of living cells because they have the ability to LOWER the ACTIVATION barriers for specific reactions.
What is the definition of a "CATALYST"?
-It is a MOLECULE or SUBSTANCE that can LOWER the ACTIVATION ENERGY for a reaction.
Are enzymes changed by the reaction?
-NO! -The enzymes themselves are NOT changed by the reaction and CATALYZE the same reaction over and over again.
Are enzymes changed by the reaction?
-No!! -The enzymes themselves are NOT changed by the reaction and can CATALYZE the same reaction over and over again.
What are the molecules that enzymes act upon?
-Substrates
What are "Substrates"?
-They are MOLECULES that ENZYMES ACT UPON.
