Question

Experiment IV: Effect of pH on the Rate of Enzyme Reaction

1. How does pH affect the rate of chemical reaction catalyzed by an enzyme?

Answer 1

The rate of chemical reaction catalyzed by enzyme is greatly influenced by structure of enzymes or change in the structure of enzymes affects the rate of reaction.

When pH of the particular medium changes , it leads to alterations in the structure of enzymes.

Not only the shape of enzyme, pH level may also affect the charge and shape of the substrate.

Within a narrow range of pH, changes in the structural shapes of the enzymes and substrates may be reversible.

But for a significant change of pH levels, the enzyme and substrate may undergo denaturation. In such a case, they can not identify each other and no reaction will occur.

Thus, the pH is supposed to be the determining factor of chemical reactions catalyzed by enzymes or enzyme activity.