Chemistry Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Chemistry - Coursework Example Differences; Enzymes are organic, containing protein sub-groups. As such they are high molecular weight compounds. Inorganic catalysts are often low molecular weight. Inorganic catalysts are more resilient to changes in temperatures. An example is Pt/Rh catalysts used at high temperatures. This is compared to organic catalysts that denature past a certain temperature (mostly 40 degrees Celsius). Enzymes are also manufactured by biological systems, and as such most are highly specific to the reactions and substrates they require for such. Inorganic catalysts are sometimes ambiguous. They catalyse numerous reactions as long as the conditions are right. For example Platinum, Pt is a catalyst for a wide range of industrial processes. Lock and key model- this model was proposed by Emil fischer. It states that an enzyme is like a lock, while a substrate is like a key. As such, an enzyme can only be bound by a specific type of substrate (Spencer Seager, 2013) and this means that for any given enzyme, the substrate has to be specific or highly similar to the substrate for the reaction to occur. This model/ theory shows the enzyme as conformationally rigid and able to only act on substrates that are an exact fit. (Timberlake, 2014) Koshland’s induced fit theory- this theory states that an enzyme is not a rigid structure. As a substrate binds, it leads to conformational change that enhances the enzymes ability to carry out its catalytic function. In some cases the enzymes active site is remoulded completely and the charge of the enzyme also modified as it binds to its substrate. (Spencer Seager, 2013) After catalysis has been carried out, the enzyme resumes its original shape. Q3 You are an investigator and your research group has just isolated two novel enzymes A and B that are both secreted into the small intestine of the domestic pig Sus scrofa. You would like to have these enzymes characterised. Therefore you have asked your project student