Question

Describe the profile you would expect for a biological catalyst. Complete the sentences to explain why an enzyme is different than an inorganic catalyst. Match the words to the appropriate blanks in the sentences.

Multiple
Organic
slower
a single
high
faster
inroganic
low
about the same

When looking at the plot G versus reaction coordinate, the profile for a biological catalyst (e.g. an enzyme) will have __________ transition state(s), with an overall activation energy that is __________ in comparison to the uncatalyzed reaction.

Enzymes have a __________ molecular weight and are __________ compounds, while inorganic catalysts often have a __________ molecular weight and are __________ compounds.

When comparing rates, enzymes are typically several times __________ than inorganic catalysts.

Answer 1

Enzymes exhibit a single transition state and have lower activation energy than uncatalyzed reactions, are higher molecular weight organic compounds, and work much faster than inorganic catalysts due to their specificity for substrates.

Step-by-step explanation:

When looking at the plot G versus reaction coordinate, the profile for a biological catalyst (e.g. an enzyme) will have a single transition state(s), with an overall activation energy that is lower in comparison to the uncatalyzed reaction.

Enzymes have a high molecular weight and are organic compounds, while inorganic catalysts often have a low molecular weight and are inorganic compounds.

When comparing rates, enzymes are typically several times faster than inorganic catalysts. This is due to enzymes having evolved highly specific shapes with physical-chemical properties that attract only the substrates necessary for a particular biochemical reaction, and an active site with high specificity and affinity for its substrate(s).

Answer 2

- When looking at the plot G versus reaction coordinate, the profile for a biological catalyst (e.g. an enzyme) will have about the same transition state(s), with an overall activation energy that is low in comparison to the uncatalyzed reaction.

- Enzymes have a high molecular weight and are organic compounds, while inorganic catalysts often have a low molecular weight and are inorganic compounds.

- When comparing rates, enzymes are typically several times faster than inorganic catalysts.

Step-by-step explanation:

Enzymes are organic molecules capable of producing a faster chemical reaction. In an enzymatic reaction the transition state -corresponding to the state in which the substrates or products are equally likely- tends to be the same, while the energy required for the reaction decreases.

The differences between an enzyme and an inorganic catalyst are structural and functional:

• Enzymes are organic and of high molecular weight and catalysts are inorganic and of low molecular weight.
• An enzyme can change its structure during a reaction, while the configuration of a catalyst is the same.
• The reaction catalyzed by an enzyme is about 10⁶ to 10¹² times faster than with a catalyst.