Question

station 11—honors
answer the questions based on the graphs in part i.

1. what is the function of an enzyme?
2. what is happening to the substrate with enzyme function?
3. describe the pattern of enzyme function shown by the data in the graphs.
4. at which ph is the enzyme functioning best? explain why.
5. if at one ph the substrate is all converted to product in 5 seconds, and at another ph it takes 7 seconds for all of the substrate to be converted, at which ph is the enzyme functioning best? why?

Explanation:

1. Enzymes are biological catalysts that speed up chemical reactions by lowering the activation - energy required for the reaction to occur.
2. The substrate binds to the active - site of the enzyme, and the enzyme catalyzes the conversion of the substrate into products.
3. Without seeing the graphs, in general, enzyme function may show patterns such as an increase in reaction rate with increasing substrate concentration up to a point (saturation), or changes in activity with varying pH or temperature.
4. Enzymes have an optimal pH at which they function best. This is because the pH affects the enzyme's structure and the charge of its active - site. At the optimal pH, the enzyme's structure is most conducive to substrate binding and catalysis.
5. The enzyme is functioning best at the pH where the substrate is converted to product in 5 seconds. This is because a shorter conversion time indicates a higher reaction rate, meaning the enzyme is more effective at catalyzing the reaction at that pH.

Answer:

1. Enzymes act as biological catalysts to lower activation - energy and speed up chemical reactions.
2. The substrate binds to the enzyme's active - site and is converted into products.
3. Varies depending on graph data (e.g., saturation with substrate, pH/temperature effects).
4. Depends on the enzyme; at optimal pH, structure supports catalysis.
5. The pH where conversion takes 5 seconds, as it has a higher reaction rate.