Final answer:
The first enzyme involved in alcohol metabolism is alcohol dehydrogenase, which oxidizes ethanol to acetaldehyde and is crucial for detoxifying alcohol in the liver.
Step-by-step explanation:
The first enzyme involved in the metabolism of alcohol is the alcohol dehydrogenase. This enzyme initiates the metabolic process by oxidizing ethanol to acetaldehyde, a toxic compound that is further metabolized by acetaldehyde dehydrogenase. The reaction also produces NADH and H+ ions, indicating the involvement of an oxidoreductase enzyme.
Alcohol dehydrogenase belongs to the class of enzymes known as oxidoreductases, which are responsible for catalyzing oxidation-reduction reactions. Specifically, alcohol dehydrogenase is involved in the oxidation of primary or secondary alcohols using coenzymes like NAD+ or NADP+. By catalyzing the primary step in ethanol metabolism, alcohol dehydrogenase plays a crucial role in the detoxification of alcohol in the liver.