How are enzyems affected in temperature?

Answer 1

Enzymes are catalysts that speed up the rate of chemical reactions in biological organisms by providing an activity site that when in contact with a proper substrate help enable the reaction. The rate at which the catalyst can work is limited by the rate at which new substrates come in contact with the activity site. When you increase the temperature of a compound, you increase the kinetic energy of each of its molecules, so both the substrate and enzymes will be moving faster. As a result of this faster movement, the two will be in contact far more often, allowing for the reactions to occur even more rapidly.

Alternatively, if you lower the temperature you will be decreasing the speed and kinetic energy of the substrate and the enzyme. With less speed there will be even fewer collisions, meaning that fewer reactions can be catalyzed, slowing the rate of reaction.

Answer 2

Enzymes are affected by temperature because they have an optimal temperature at which they function most efficiently. When the temperature is too high, the enzyme can denature and lose its structure, rendering it inactive. On the other hand, when the temperature is too low, the enzyme's activity decreases as the molecules move more slowly.