(a) (i) What is an enzyme?
An enzyme is a biological catalyst that accelerates chemical reactions in living organisms - Leaving Cert Biology - Question 8 - 2005
Question 8
(a) (i) What is an enzyme?
An enzyme is a biological catalyst that accelerates chemical reactions in living organisms. It is typically a protein that binds to a sp... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:(a) (i) What is an enzyme?
An enzyme is a biological catalyst that accelerates chemical reactions in living organisms - Leaving Cert Biology - Question 8 - 2005
Step 1
What is an enzyme?
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Answer
An enzyme is a biological catalyst that accelerates chemical reactions in living organisms. It is typically a protein that binds to a specific substrate, facilitating its conversion into products by lowering the activation energy required for the reaction.
Step 2
Comment on the shape of enzyme molecules.
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Answer
Enzyme molecules have a specific three-dimensional shape that is crucial for their function. They possess an active site that fits the substrate—akin to a lock and key. This molecular shape allows enzymes to recognize and bind to their substrates, and undergo conformational changes to facilitate the reaction.
Step 3
What enzyme did you use?
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Answer
The enzyme I used was catalase, which catalyzes the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide into water and oxygen.
Step 4
What substrate did you use?
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Answer
The substrate used in the experiment was hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂).
Step 5
Draw a labelled diagram of the apparatus that you used.
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[Insert diagram here: a beaker containing the hydrogen peroxide, a test tube for collecting oxygen, a thermometer for temperature measurement, and a water bath to maintain the temperature gradient.]
Step 6
How did you know that the enzyme had completed its activity?
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I determined that the enzyme had completed its activity when there were no further observable changes, such as no more bubbling or color change in the solution, indicating that the substrate had been fully converted to products.
Step 7
How did you vary the temperature in your experiment?
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In the experiment, I varied the temperature using a water bath set at different temperatures (e.g., 20°C, 30°C, 40°C, etc.) and a Bunsen burner for higher temperatures.
Step 8
Draw an outline graph of the results that you obtained.
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Answer
[Insert outline graph showing the relationship between temperature and rate of reaction, indicating the optimum temperature for enzyme activity.]
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