Chemistry > Lab Report > Activation Energy Lab Report (All)

Activation Energy Lab Report

Document Content and Description Below

Introduction Enzymes are globular proteins that keep the metabolic pathway flowing (1). Catalysts are the secondary substance that assists an enzyme when biochemical reaction needs to regulate or ac ... celerate the rate. When digestive enzymes are produced in the pancreas, they are activated in the small intestine to prevent the digestive enzyme from destroying the pancreas itself. Another way enzymes influence the human body is by the clotting factor. When a vessel is damaged the enzyme that promotes blood clot formation on the wall is catalyzed to prevent any more blood from leaving the broken blood vessel (1). The enzymes are able to perform their catalytic functions because they take place in a chemical reaction. A minimum amount of energy designated to begin a chemical reaction is termed activation energy (2). Every chemical reaction requires a certain amount of this energy. Kinetic energy must be equal or greater than the activation energy in order for the reaction to perform this is what takes place with enzyme action. The activation energy is the energy required to break bonds of the reactants in order for the enzyme to rearrange into the desired mechanism to produce products. Thus, this terms collision theory in which it states, that molecules involved in a reaction regardless of state or phase will collide in a particular orientation with an amount of kinetic energy that exceeds the activation energy in order for the chemical reaction to occur. Kinetic energy in specifics to enzyme action can increase with temperature, but if the temperature is too high it will denature proteins (1). Hence, when someone has a high fever it can lead to brain damage. Enzymes are able to regulate chemical reactions by occurring at normal body temperatures and using a catalyst to decrease the amount of activation energy that is required (1). If the product of a chemical reaction sits lower than the activation energy then it is an exothermic reaction, as the reaction releases energy. If the product of a chemical reaction sits higher than the activation energy than the reaction is endothermic as the energy was absorbed. Kinetic energy also refers to the reaction rate, which is the change in concentration of a reactant or a product with time. Rate laws express the relationship of the reaction rate to the rate constant through the determination of concentrations of the reactants raised to a certain power. The rate law was determined by studying the iodide oxidization by hydrogen peroxide this past week, with the following chemical equation [Show More]

Last updated: 3 years ago

Preview 1 out of 8 pages

Buy Now

Instant download

We Accept: