Question

A child is brought to the hospital with a fever of 107°F. Doctors immediately order an ice bath to lower the child’s temperature. Which of the following statements offers the most logical explanation for this action?

a. Elevated body temperature will increase reaction rates in the child’s cells and overload the limited number of enzymes found in the cell.
b. Elevated body temperatures may denature enzymes. This would interfere with the cell’s abilities to catalyze various reactions.
c. Elevated body temperatures will increase the energy of activation needed to start various chemical reactions in the body. This will interfere with the ability of enzymes to catalyze vital chemical reactions.
d. Elevated body temperatures will have no effect on enzyme-mediated reactions.
e. Elevated body temperatures cause molecules to vibrate more quickly and prevent enzymes from easily attaching to reactants. This would slow vital body reactions.

Answer 1

B. Elevated body temperatures may denature enzymes. This would interfere with the cell’s abilities to catalyze various reactions

Step-by-step explanation:

Enzymes in our body requires an optimum temperature in order to ensure that they working with maximum efficiency . The normal temperature at which our enzymes work efficiently is 98.6 F which is the normal body temperature. Any deviation, results in reduced enzyme efficiency.

Therefore when we have a fever the body temperature is raised causing the enzymes stop working at the raised temperature making most metabolic functions helpless.

In order for continued bodily function, the temperature needs to be immediately reduced