Why enzymes stop working when things get too hot or acidic
In short: This video breaks down the precise environmental factors that dictate biological speed. It explains how temperature, pH, and concentration levels determine whether enzymes facilitate life or fall into functional collapse.
Enzymes are governed by specific physical constraints. Temperature affects them through kinetic energy; while moderate heat increases collision frequency, excessive heat causes denaturation. Similarly, deviations from an optimum pH—moving toward acidic or alkaline extremes—can also lead to denaturation.
The video also explores concentration dynamics. It covers how increasing substrate concentration leads to a saturation point where reaction rates plateau, and how enzyme concentration acts as a limiting factor. Notably, the relevance of the temperature coefficient (Q10) varies depending on the specific exam board, such as AQA, OCR, and CIE.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: A-Level Biology - Factors that Affect Enzyme Action (2027/28 exams)
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