Question 1: Define an enzyme and explain its primary function in the digestive system.

Answer: An enzyme is a biological catalyst that speeds up chemical reactions, such as breaking down food molecules during digestion.

Question 2: Describe how enzymes lower the activation energy of a chemical reaction.

Answer: Enzymes lower the activation energy by providing an alternative reaction pathway with a lower energy barrier, making reactions occur faster at body temperature.

Question 3: Which of the following factors can affect enzyme activity? (Select all that apply)

Answer: ["Temperature","pH level","Substrate concentration"]

Question 4: Fill in the blank: The specific substance an enzyme acts upon is called its __________.

Answer: substrate

Question 5: Explain how temperature changes can affect enzyme activity in the human body.

Answer: Optimal temperature allows enzymes to function efficiently; too high temperatures can denature enzymes, reducing activity, while too low temperatures slow down reaction rates.

Question 6: A certain enzyme has an optimal pH of 7.0. What might happen to the enzyme's activity if the pH drops to 4.0?

Answer: The enzyme's activity would decrease because the pH change can denature the enzyme or alter its active site, making it less effective.

Question 7: Calculate the rate of enzyme activity if 50 reactions occur in 10 seconds. Express your answer in reactions per second.

Answer: 5

Question 8: Identify the independent and dependent variables in an experiment testing the effect of temperature on enzyme activity.

Answer: Independent variable: temperature; Dependent variable: enzyme activity (reaction rate or number of reactions).

Question 9: Describe a simple experiment to test how pH affects enzyme activity in the digestive system.

Answer: Prepare several solutions with different pH levels (e.g., 3, 5, 7, 9). Add the same amount of enzyme and substrate to each solution, then measure the reaction rate (e.g., amount of product formed over time). Observe which pH produces the highest activity, indicating optimal enzyme function at that pH.

Question 10: In the context of the digestive system, why are enzymes considered essential for efficient digestion?

Answer: Enzymes are essential because they speed up the breakdown of large food molecules into smaller, absorbable units, making digestion efficient and quick.

Question 11: Give a real-world example of how enzyme technology is used in industry or medicine.

Answer: Enzymes are used in laundry detergents to break down stains and in medicine to develop enzyme-based treatments for diseases.