Enzymes [GCSE Chemistry only]
Enzymes are biological catalysts and are produced by living organisms to speed up the Chemical processes that take place within living organisms. reactions they need in order to survive.
Without the use of catalysts, these biochemical processes (such as Chemical reaction that takes place inside living cells, which uses glucose and oxygen to release the energy organisms need to live. Carbon dioxide and water are by-products of respiration. and The breakdown of large insoluble food molecules to smaller soluble ones.) would happen too slowly and the organism would not survive.
Different enzymes require different conditions to work at their highest activity (known as the optimal conditions), but most require a temperature close to 37掳C (human body temperature). If temperatures exceed the optimal temperature, the enzyme can become denatured and stop working properly.
Enzymes are often more effective than any non-biological alternatives, and so they are used commercially to speed up a number of different reactions. This includes uses in:
- washing powder
- brewing (using yeast to ferment sugar into ethanol)
- making cheese