Enzymes

Enzyme: Protiens with enormous catalytic power; make reactions happen faster (up to 1 million times faster)

Catalyst: Speeds up a chemical reaction.

• Can be used over and over.
• Highly selective.
• One surface of an enzyme is folded into a shape called the active site that the reactants fit into like a puzzle piece (or lock and key).

Activation Energy: The minum amount of energy to bring reactants together.

• Enzymes increase the reation by decreasing its activation energy.

Enzymes need to have specific conditions to work. They work only at specific temperatures; if temperature is too high they denature. They also need specific pH (usually best at pH 7)

Reaction Rate

•  Increases with higher enzyme concentration.
• The amount of available surface area also allows enzymes to work better.