Final answer:
The active site is the specific location on an enzyme where a substrate binds and a reaction occurs. It is like a groove or pocket with a unique shape that only fits a specific substrate.
Step-by-step explanation:
The active site is the specific location on an enzyme where a substrate binds and a reaction occurs. It is like a groove or pocket with a unique shape that only fits a specific substrate. The active site is where the bonds between reactant molecules are broken and/or reformed to produce new products.
The correct answer to the given question is B) active site. The active site is a specific region of the enzyme where substrate molecules bind and a chemical reaction occurs. This site is typically a pocket or groove on the enzyme's surface. Enzymes are highly specific, and each enzyme's active site is uniquely shaped to bind to a particular substrate or substrates, operating according to the lock-and-key or induced fit models.
According to the lock-and-key model, the substrate fits precisesly into the active site, much like a key fits into a lock. The induced fit model, however, proposes that the active site can adjust its shape to better fit the substrate, ensuring the proper chemical reactions occur with specificity and efficiency. Once the reaction has occurred, the products are released, and the enzyme is unchanged and ready to catalyze another reaction.