Question

A student is conducting an experiment with biochemical reactions and notices that at high temperatures, the reaction rate decreases significantly.

Which statement best explains the decrease in reaction rate?


The bonds of the substrate were breaking.

The enzyme bonded with the substrate.

The enzyme denatured and changed shape.

The activation energy was increasing.

Answer 1

Answer:

The enzyme denatured and changed shape

Explanation:

Enzymes are proteins, which can only function properly within a certain range of temperatures- when things get too hot, proteins undergo a structural change and are considered to be 'denatured'. This means that enzymes will not be able to function properly under those high temperatures, because the substrate bonding site would no longer be the right shape for said substrate.