pH and enzyme activity paper 1&2

You can investigate the effect of pH on the rate on enzyme activity by measuring the rate of an enzyme-controlled reaction at one pH and comparing it with the rate at other pH values. 

The importance of enzymes

Enzymes are biological catalysts that control reactions in the body. They catalyse reactions that synthesise large molecules from smaller ones and break down large molecules into smaller ones.

Enzymes as catalysts

Enzymes spped up the rate of a chemical reaction but are not used up in the reaction. This means they can be used over and over again.

Some enzymes digest large molecules into smaller molecules. This happens in the gut where large food molecules are broken down so that they can be absorbed into the blood. 

some enzymes synthesise larger molecules from smaller molecules. This is important inside cells for supporting life processes and growth.

Getting in and out of cells 

…