Unit 2 - Chemical Reactions and Enzymes

Chapter 7

Chemical Bond

changes the identity of the original substances that were combined.

Chemical Reaction

whenever chemical bonds are formed or broken

Reactants

substances that interact with one another in a chemical reaction

Product

the result of a chemical reaction

Enzymes

molecules that affect the rate of chemical reactions

What are the four different types of chemical reactions?

combination, decomposition, combustion, and displacement

combination reaction

two or more atoms form a molecule

Atom A + Atom B = Molecule AB

decomposition reaction

complex molecule is broken down into simpler atoms or molecules

Molecule AB → Atom A + Atom B

Combustion Reaction

reactions where reactants must includea molecule and oxygen

what will always happen in a combustion reaction when a hydrocarbon is present as a reactant?

the reaction will always produce the same products: carbon dioxide and water

Displacement Reaction

a reactant element replaces another reactant element atom within a compound/molecule

Molecule AB + Molecule CD → Molecule AD + Molecule CB

Activation Energy

the amount of energy needed to start a chemical reaction

What does the requirement of activation energy ensure?

it ensures that an organism can control when chemical reactions take place and won’t have uncontrollable chemical reactions occuring within their bodies.

How do enzymes affect the activation energy requirement?

They make the requirement lower.

What do organisms use enzymes for?

they use them to trigger chemical reactions

Essentially, what are enzymes?

proteins that act as biological catalysts

What are the two terms that enzymes are often referred to as?

Catalysts and regulators

What happens when an organism’s enzymes cannot function properly?

the organism will most likely die in prospect.

What is the importance of enzymes and how do they function?

Enzymes are necessary for the functions of organisms, and they can only function perfectly in the right environment.