Question

Changes in environmental pH or temperature will cause the reaction rate for an enzyme to

A) increase.
B) decrease.
C) either increase or decrease depending upon enzyme properties.
D) not change.

Answer 1

Changes in environmental pH or temperature can affect the reaction rate of an enzyme, potentially decreasing it.

Step-by-step explanation:

The rate of an enzyme-catalyzed reaction can be affected by changes in environmental pH or temperature.

Increasing or decreasing the temperature outside of an optimal range can affect the chemical bonds within the enzyme's active site, leading to a decrease in reaction rate. High temperatures can cause denaturation of enzymes, resulting in a loss of their structure and function.

Similarly, extreme pH values can also denature enzymes and affect their function. Enzymes are best suited to function within a certain pH range, and deviations from this range can lead to a decrease in reaction rate.