What factors affect enzyme activity?

Temperature, substrate concentration and pH value are three factors affecting enzyme activity Enzymes are catalysts - substances that improve the reaction rate Without it, the necessary process of life, such as digestion, would be greatly slowed down Many enzymes have the ideal temperature and pH values to make them work most efficiently with invariance Denaturation or inactivation of the enzyme occurs when the protein begins to disintegrate Temperature is one of the main factors affecting enzyme activity As heat increases, molecules usually move faster and faster, and this increased activity means that molecules are more likely to collide with enzymes The higher collision rate makes the reaction increase, but it can only reach a certain high point If the temperature increases too much, the enzyme protein will begin to denature, which is a potential permanent process The optimal temperature range of many enzymes is 25-40 ℃, but some enzymes, such as animals living in seawater or hot springs, tend to have higher or lower optimal survival temperature Temperature is not the only factor affecting enzyme If the enzyme concentration is consistent, the increase of the concentration of the enzyme reactants (molecules involved in the reaction) will also affect the reaction speed of the enzyme With the increase of the concentration of the reactants, the initial rate of the reaction increases, because more enzymes promote the reaction However, after reaching a specific point, the additional enzyme reactants will not affect the enzyme activity, because there are only so many enzymes On the contrary, the reaction rate will be consistent, because the additional enzyme reactants need to wait for the enzyme to promote the reaction The pH level in the solution also affects the enzyme activity Many enzymes are only effective in a narrow pH range If the enzyme finds itself in an unsuitable pH range, it will denature The optimal pH range of many enzymes is 7-7.5, but not all enzymes are suitable for this condition Some enzymes, such as those in the stomach, are most efficient at an acid pH of 1.5, while those in the gut perform best at a slightly alkaline pH of 8.0.