2.5 investigate the effects of the environment on enzyme activity through the collection of primary or secondary data

Temperature

Enzymes have an optimum temperature of 37.5°C; activity increases with temperature until denaturation occurs.

pH

Measures acidity (0) to alkalinity (14); deviation from optimum pH denatures enzymes.

Substrate Concentration

Higher substrate amounts increase reaction rate until saturation point.

Enzyme Concentration

Affects substrate acted upon; increased concentration doesn't always mean higher activity rate.

Presence of Salt

Salt ions can disrupt intermolecular forces between enzymes.

Enzyme Inhibitors

Competitive inhibitors occupy active site, non-competitive bind elsewhere on the enzyme.

Cofactors & Coenzymes

Needed for enzyme reactions; cofactors bind permanently (e.g., metal ions), coenzymes carry groups between enzymes.