Question

How many different chemical reactions can a single enzyme catalyze?

Answer 1

Hint: Enzymes are known as bio-catalyst. These speeds up the chemical reaction happening inside the living organism without being reacted to are called enzymes. The enzymes are very specific in nature. The substrate binds to the active site of the enzyme that leads to the catalysis of reaction and forms the product.

Complete step by step answer:
- In catalysis, the rate of reaction is altered with the help of a catalyst. It affects the activation energy, wherein in the absence catalyst its activation energy is more whereas in the presence of catalyst it reduces the activation energy and fastens up the reaction.
- Enzymes are the biological catalyst which is responsible for facilitating the rate of the biochemical reactions occurring in plants and animals. The enzyme catalysis is the catalysis in which the enzymes are acting as a catalyst.

Characteristics of enzyme catalysis:
- The enzymes are highly efficient. A single molecule of the enzyme can transform into multiple molecules of the reactant per second.
- At the optimum temperature, the catalyst shows the maximum of its effectiveness. The biochemical activity declines as the temperature either increases or decreases.
- The same catalyst can’t be used for more than one reaction.
- The catalyst shows its maximum activity at the optimum pH i.e., \[5 - 7\]. Either less or more pH, the activity of enzymes gets declined.
- In the presence of coenzymes or activators, usually, the activity of enzymes increases. In between the enzyme and metal there exists a weak bond due to which the rate of reaction increases. Example, \[C{o^{2 + }},{\text{ }}N{a^ + }\] .

Hence, one enzyme for one reaction.

Note: The enzyme is proteins that are complex compounds having nitrogen. Plants and animals produce these complex compounds naturally in their bodies. These proteins are very efficient and are responsible for various reactions occurring in the body.