Enzymes have an optimum temperature for their catalytic activity.This is best explained by the balance between the ________ number of collisions and the ________ rate of denaturation of the enzyme as temperatures increase.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Enzymes have an optimum temperature because as the temperature increases, the number of collisions between enzymes and substrates increases, enhancing the rate of reaction. However, beyond a certain temperature, the rate of enzyme denaturation (loss of structure and function) also increases, which decreases the enzyme's catalytic activity. This balance between increased collisions and increased denaturation rates at higher temperatures explains the existence of an optimum temperature for enzyme activity.

Enzymes Have an Optimum Temperature for Their Catalytic Activity