Practice Questions

1.Describe the role of enzymes

Enzymes are protein molecules that act as biological catalysts, so they speed up chemical reactions. 

2.Explain how the lock and key model works

In this model, the active site of the enzyme is a lock and the substrate is a key.

Each enzyme has an active site, which the substrate (reactant) will enter and bind to forming an enzyme-substrate complex. 

A chemical reaction then occur, resulting in the formation of a product, which leaves the active site of the enzyme.

3. Define the term metabolism

Metabolism is the sum of all the chemical reaction in a cell or body of an organism.

4. Why are enzymes essential to life?

In an organism, metabolic reactions need to happen quickly enough to sustain life. Enzymes are essential to speed up the metabolic reactions so they occur quickly enough to sustain life. Without enzymes reactions would be too slow and the organism would die.