Question

Enzymes are only used industrially to make chiral molecules

a) Yes, enzymes are only useful more the manufacture of chiral products such as valuable pharmaceutical intermediates
b) There are no examples of enzymes as catalysts in chemical processes in an industrial setting
c) Enzymes are often used to make chiral products, but can be successfully used in some cases for achiral products
d) Enzymes cannot make chiral products, they are only used to make products which do not possess chirality

Answer 1

Enzymes are often used to make chiral products, but can be successfully used in some cases for achiral products.c)

Step-by-step explanation:

Enzymes are highly versatile catalysts capable of facilitating both chiral and achiral reactions in industrial settings. While their primary application lies in synthesizing chiral molecules crucial for pharmaceuticals, they're not limited solely to chiral products. Enzymes possess pockets or active sites that can accommodate specific substrates, enabling reactions for both chiral and achiral compounds. This versatility extends their utility across various industries beyond pharmaceuticals, impacting the production of chemicals, food, and more.c)

The catalytic action of enzymes occurs due to their specificity toward substrates, bringing them into close proximity and facilitating reactions. This ability to interact with a wide range of substrates makes enzymes valuable tools in industrial processes. For chiral products, enzymes demonstrate remarkable stereoselectivity, synthesizing optically pure compounds vital in drug development. However, enzymes also exhibit efficacy in transforming achiral substrates into specific products through their unique selectivity and efficiency.

Enzyme-catalyzed reactions often display high yields and specificity, making them economically viable for industrial use. Their ability to work under mild conditions reduces energy consumption and waste generation, enhancing the sustainability of manufacturing processes. Therefore, while enzymes are prominently utilized for chiral molecule synthesis, their adaptability and efficiency render them valuable for both chiral and achiral products in diverse industrial applications.

Answer 2

Enzymes are primarily known for their use in producing chiral products due to their stereospecific characteristics; however, they are also used for achiral substances in diverse industrial applications, such as in laundry detergents and meat tenderizers.

Step-by-step explanation:

The accurate statement about the use of enzymes in industrial processes is that enzymes are often used to make chiral products, but they can also be used to catalyze reactions for achiral products. This robustness stems from the fact that enzymes, as catalysts, are not used up in reactions and are known for their high specificity and catalytic power. They can promote reactions that produce chiral molecules because of their stereospecific characteristics, but their application is not limited to only chiral molecules. There are industrial processes where enzymes are utilized for their stereospecificity, such as in the pharmaceutical industry to produce pure enantiomers of drugs. Conversely, enzymes like proteases have applications in products such as laundry detergents, contact lens cleaners, and meat tenderizers, demonstrating their utility beyond just the synthesis of chiral molecules.