Enzymes

If a reaction has a negative delta g that does not mean it happens quickly

Activation energy

• Even favorable reactions need a push

  • We are trying to seperate them or get some energy from the bonds

• When we do that the activation energy is how hard we have to work to get this

How can a reaction go faster?

• Heating them/ releasing the energy of reacting molecules

  • This is not very useful in humans because we have a desirable temp

• Lower the activation energy

  • Substances that lower activation energies are catalysts

What catalysts can’t do

• They can’t break the rules of thermodynamics

  • They do not violate laws

  • The catalyst does not change the delta G either

    • Same reactants going in and same products going out

Enzymes are Biological Catalysts

• Most enzymes are proteins

  • Some can be RNA

• To speed up reactions

  • Not one use

  • They are not consumed when they do this

Shape Matters

• You need the correct substrate and active sight coombined

• he wrong substrate will not work