pill.png

Pill

Theme C - Interaction &  Interdependence

direct-hit.png

Direct Hit

Theme A - Unity & diversity

page-facing-up.png

Page Facing Up

Theme B - Form & Function

keycap-digit-one.png

Keycap Digit One

Theme D - Continuity & Change

🎨 Imagine This: You&#39;re trying to jump over a tall wall. It&#39;s quite hard and tiring, right? Now imagine there&#39;s a trampoline in front of that wall, and you can use it to bounce over. Easier? Of course! Enzymes are like that trampoline for chemical reactions.

<ul>
	<li>They don&#39;t happen in just one go. There&#39;s a journey.</li>
	<li>Substrates are the starting materials that need to transform into end products.</li>
	<li>Before they transform, they go through a phase called the transition state.</li>
</ul>

<ul>
	<li>It&#39;s the push or energy needed to get substrates to the transition state.</li>
	<li>Think of it like the energy you need to get onto that trampoline and jump!</li>
</ul>

<ul>
	<li>
	📉 Without Enzymes

	<ul>
		<li>You need a lot of energy (activation energy) to start.</li>
		<li>But once the reaction happens, energy is given off (because the energy from making new bonds is greater than what was used to break the old ones). This means the reaction releases more energy than it consumes. Think of it like burning a log of wood - you light it up, and then it releases heat!</li>
		<li>The net result? An exothermic reaction. This means there&#39;s a net release of energy.</li>
	</ul>
	</li>
	<li>
	📈 With Enzymes

	<ul>
		<li>Still need some energy to start, but WAY less.</li>
		<li>The overall energy released doesn&#39;t change, but the starting &quot;push&quot; is reduced.</li>
		<li>How? The enzyme&#39;s active site weakens the substrate bonds, making them easier to break, like loosening the lid of a tough jar!</li>
		<li>The big win? The reaction happens faster, like supercharged fast, sometimes a million times or more.</li>
	</ul>
	</li>
</ul>

🍎 Real-World Example: Digesting food! Your body uses enzymes to speed up the breakdown of complex foods into simpler nutrients. Without these enzymes, digesting a meal would take ages and require a lot more energy.

&nbsp;

💡 Takeaway: Enzymes are nature&#39;s speed boosters. They make reactions faster by reducing the activation energy needed. Without them, life processes would be super slow!

&nbsp;

Remember, enzymes don&#39;t change the amount of energy a reaction releases; they just make it easier to get the reaction started. Like the best coach ever, pushing you to start but not interfering with how you finish the race! 🏁

Enzymes Reducing Activation Energy & Boosting Reaction Speed

ib-higher-level.webp

Higher Level

Biology HL

Theme C - Interaction & Interdependence

Enzymes Reducing Activation Energy & Boosting Reaction Speed

Table of content

Chemical reactions 101 🔬

Unlock the Full Content!

Theme C - Interaction & Interdependence

Enzymes Reducing Activation Energy & Boosting Reaction Speed

Table of content

Chemical reactions 101 🔬

Unlock the Full Content!