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Q: Why do enzymes work poorly at below optimum temperature?
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At what temperature does saliva work the fastest?

The enzymes in the saliva works fastest at optimum temperature (Body temperature) around 37 degrees Celsius. Actually, that's not completely accurate. The higher the temperature, the faster the rate of any chemical reaction, and that's also true of the enzymes in the human body. Our body temperature is regulated right around 37 degrees centigrade (98.6 F), but your body temp can increase, and it does during hard exercise or when you're feverish. At those higher temperatures the enzymes will work more rapidly than they do at 37 degrees. Now, why should that be the case? Why not operate always at optimum temperature? Because as temperature increases, we eventually arrive at a point at which the enzymes begin to denature and stop working. When that happens, the individual dies, which is not a good thing. That's why your body's normal operating temperature is not the optimum temperature for your enzymes. If your body temperature was regulated at optimum temperature under relaxed conditions, when you began to exercise or when you got a fever, your enzymes would denature and you'd die. Regulating your body's temperature at a point 4 or 5 degrees below optimum represents an important safety factor.


How does temperature affect how quickly food goes off?

Food 'going off' is actually the molecules in the food reacting with enzymes and so forth; ie the food is getting broken down and molecules are changing. In short chemical reactions are taking place; temperature affects every chemical reaction. Enzymes in the food will have an optimum temperature in which they work at. If you go too far below or above the optimum temperature then the enzyme will denature and not work (that is why you can cook or freeze food to stop it going off and to make it edible), however leaving food around in room temperature will mean that the enzymes will be nearer their optimum temperature and therefore the reactions will take place thus the food will become bad.


What three things can alter the rate of an enzyme?

Three things that can alter the rate of an enzyme are; temperature, pH and substrate concentration. Enzymes will have an optimal temperature and pH, at which they will have the greatest rate. Below or above these optimum conditions, the rate will be slower.


Why do potatoes last longer in the refrigerator?

Because there kept fresher in the refrigerator The enzymes in the microbes that eventually cause fungal growth within the potato are below the optimum temperature neded to work. This means when compared to room tepmerature (which is closer to their optimum temp) they work slower and therefore reproducing the 'bad stuff' in the potato that causes it to go rotten slower.


How do temperature pH and enzyme concentration each influence enzyme activity?

Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is a poisonous byproduct of metabolism that can damage cells if it is not removed. Catalase is an enzyme that speeds up the breakdown of hydrogen peroxide into water (H2O) and oxygen gas (O2).

Related questions

At what temperature does saliva work the fastest?

The enzymes in the saliva works fastest at optimum temperature (Body temperature) around 37 degrees Celsius. Actually, that's not completely accurate. The higher the temperature, the faster the rate of any chemical reaction, and that's also true of the enzymes in the human body. Our body temperature is regulated right around 37 degrees centigrade (98.6 F), but your body temp can increase, and it does during hard exercise or when you're feverish. At those higher temperatures the enzymes will work more rapidly than they do at 37 degrees. Now, why should that be the case? Why not operate always at optimum temperature? Because as temperature increases, we eventually arrive at a point at which the enzymes begin to denature and stop working. When that happens, the individual dies, which is not a good thing. That's why your body's normal operating temperature is not the optimum temperature for your enzymes. If your body temperature was regulated at optimum temperature under relaxed conditions, when you began to exercise or when you got a fever, your enzymes would denature and you'd die. Regulating your body's temperature at a point 4 or 5 degrees below optimum represents an important safety factor.


How does the temperature affect how quickly food goes off?

Food 'going off' is actually the molecules in the food reacting with enzymes and so forth; ie the food is getting broken down and molecules are changing. In short chemical reactions are taking place; temperature affects every chemical reaction. Enzymes in the food will have an optimum temperature in which they work at. If you go too far below or above the optimum temperature then the enzyme will denature and not work (that is why you can cook or freeze food to stop it going off and to make it edible), however leaving food around in room temperature will mean that the enzymes will be nearer their optimum temperature and therefore the reactions will take place thus the food will become bad.


How does temperature affect how quickly food goes off?

Food 'going off' is actually the molecules in the food reacting with enzymes and so forth; ie the food is getting broken down and molecules are changing. In short chemical reactions are taking place; temperature affects every chemical reaction. Enzymes in the food will have an optimum temperature in which they work at. If you go too far below or above the optimum temperature then the enzyme will denature and not work (that is why you can cook or freeze food to stop it going off and to make it edible), however leaving food around in room temperature will mean that the enzymes will be nearer their optimum temperature and therefore the reactions will take place thus the food will become bad.


What three things can alter the rate of an enzyme?

Three things that can alter the rate of an enzyme are; temperature, pH and substrate concentration. Enzymes will have an optimal temperature and pH, at which they will have the greatest rate. Below or above these optimum conditions, the rate will be slower.


What are optimal conditions of enzymes?

every enzyme has specific optimum temperatures and pH. 1. The pH is very specific even a minor change of .5 will cause the enzyme to denature. 2. The temperature is less specific all enzymes will work below the optimum temperature but the reaction will be slower. Above the optimum temperature the enzyme will denature. Note the optimum temperature of the human body is around 37.5 degrees C and the optimum pH is around 7.3.


What is the optimum temperature of an enzyme?

Enzymes are sensitive to temperature enzyme has its optimum temperature for its maximum activity,above and below this temperature its rate of reaction decreases.Most of enzymes are highly active at about 37C and are completely destroyed at 100C,whereas at minimum i.e.0C, activity is reduced to minimum but enzymes are not destroyed.


How are enzymes affected by changes in pH?

A change in pH or and change in temperature will change the shape of the enzyme because its proteins are denatured. Therefore, the enzyme can no longer perform its desired functions because its specific shape has been altered.


Why do potatoes last longer in the refrigerator?

Because there kept fresher in the refrigerator The enzymes in the microbes that eventually cause fungal growth within the potato are below the optimum temperature neded to work. This means when compared to room tepmerature (which is closer to their optimum temp) they work slower and therefore reproducing the 'bad stuff' in the potato that causes it to go rotten slower.


Describe the chemical compositions and configuration of enzymes and discuss the factors that modify enzymes structure and function?

Enzymes are composed of amino acids, and have different bonds such as a hydrogen bond which maintains the enzyme's shape. Factors such as temperature and pH have an effect upon the enzymes structure. Enzymes have slower rates of reaction when the temperature is below the enzymes optimum temperature. This is due to the fact that hydrogen bonds are stronger at lower temperatures meaning that the enzyme is less flexible and so, using the induced fit theory, this means that the substrate is less able to fit into the enzymes active site meaning less substrate is broken down therefore the rate of reaction is much less than it would be at the enzymes optimum temperature. When the temperature also exceeds the enzymes optimum temperature the rate of reaction is again slower that it would be at the optimum temperature, this is due to the high temperature causing the hydrogen bonds to be broken, meaning the enzyme can be denatured, and there is a point where the enzymes are unable to "renature" (when temp is returned to optimum) because too many hydrogen bonds would have been broken. pH is a factor which also affects the enzymes structure, by changing the pH from the enzymes optimum pH you are then causing there to be a change in the enzymes structure and molecular shape. pH can in turn strengthen or weaken the intermolecular forces like the hydrogen bonds. Competitive inhibitors can also alter the enzymes function. Competitive inhibitors have a molecular shape which is similar to the shape of the substrate; This means that they can occupy the enzymes active site meaning that they compete with the substrate for an available active site. The difference between the concentration of the competitive inhibitor and the substrate determines the effect upon the enzyme activity, if the competitive inhibitors concentration is highest the effect of the substrate is lessened. The inhibitor is not permenantly bound to the enzymes active site, so when it leaves another molecule may take its place, either another inhibitor or substrate. Sooner or later all of the substrate will occupy active sites of enzymes, but if the inhibitor concentration is higher this may take some time. Non-competitive inhibitors can also effect the enzyme activity by attaching themselves to the enzyme, but not at the active site. This attachment means the enzyme's active site may under-go a shape change meaning that the substrate may not fit into it, causing the effect of the enzyme to be lowered as less substrate can be broken down. Non-competitive inhibitors may be permanent. Hope this helps you, even if it is very slightly.


In what ways could you adjust incubation temperature to grow an orgainsm at less than its optimal growth rate?

lower it below or raise it above the the optimum temperature


How do temperature pH and enzyme concentration each influence enzyme activity?

Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is a poisonous byproduct of metabolism that can damage cells if it is not removed. Catalase is an enzyme that speeds up the breakdown of hydrogen peroxide into water (H2O) and oxygen gas (O2).


What is the optimum temperature for enzymes in most locations of the human body?

Some enzyme function only in specific conditions, they are activated only in suitable environment. some work only in neutral environment. all ptyalin in saliva works only in the mouth which has a pH of 6-8 but when food is in the stomach wherein it's acidic, ptyalin action stops. enzymes don't function below with freezing point destroyed by too much heat. each organs has a specific temp called optimum temperature. in the human beings, enzymes can't function unless certain vitamins are present/ the right amount of vitamins will give maximum use of vitamins as well as enzymes.