Answers Worksheet
Enzymes: function, structure and specificity
Task A: Enzyme function
1. Write a definition for the term ‘enzyme’.
An enzyme is a biological catalyst that speeds up the rate of a chemical reaction
without being used up.
2. List three biological processes that use enzymes.
You may have included respiration, photosynthesis,
movement, digestion, immune response, protein
synthesis, cell division, or other biological processes
which require enzymes.
Rate of reaction
3. Draw a bar chart which shows the difference in the
rate of reaction without and with an enzyme.
Your graph should look like the one shown.
4. Enzymes are made from amino acids.
What type of biological molecule must they be ?
Amino acids are joined together to make proteins, so
enzymes must be proteins. without with enzyme
enzyme
Task B: Enzyme structure
1. Draw a labelled diagram to show the key steps in an enzyme-controlled reaction.
active site substrate products
enzyme
enzyme-substrate
complex
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Answers Enzymes: function, structure and specificity Worksheet
Task B: Enzyme structure
2. Explain what happens to the enzyme at the end of the reaction, and why this is
beneficial.
Your answer should include:
● the enzyme is not used up in the reaction
● it is available to catalyse another reaction
● this is beneficial because one enzyme can catalyse the reaction many times
● fewer enzymes are required, and the reaction can occur more efficiently
Task C: Enzyme specificity
1. Using the words below, describe how an enzyme catalyses a biological reaction.
specific catalyse shape active site
activation energy used up substrate
Example answer:
Enzymes catalyse biological reactions but are not used up themselves.
The substrate fits the enzyme’s active site: it is a specific shape like a lock with a key.
When the substrate binds, the activation energy is lowered which increases the rate of
the reaction.
2. Use the lock and key model to explain enzyme specificity.
Your answer should include:
● enzymes are a specific shape for their substrate
● they can only catalyse one type of chemical reaction
● a substrate fits the active site, like a key fits a lock
● the lock and key model describes this
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