What happens to the rate of an enzyme-catalysed reaction when temperature increases? And when pH changes?

As temperature increases, the molecules involved in the reaction gain kinetic energy, increasing the chances of collision between the substrate molecules and the active sites of the enzymes, a step that is necessary for catalysis. Therefore, the rate of an enzyme-catalysed reaction increases with temperature, up to an optimum temperature. However, if the temperature continues to increase past this point, the enzymes become denatured and lose their function as a catalyst, thus the reaction stops.

Each enzyme has an optimum pH at which the maximum rate of the reaction is reached, and a narrow interval of tolerance within which the reaction occurs at a lower rate. Enzymes are very sensitive to pH changes, since they cause variation to the superficial charges at their active sites, modifying their shape and difficulting interation with the substrates. Therefore, a change in pH will reduce the rate of an enzyme-catalysed reaction and may cause it to stop if the new pH doesn't fall within the interval at which the enzyme can function.

MD
Answered by Maria D. Biology tutor

11554 Views

See similar Biology A Level tutors

Related Biology A Level answers

All answers ▸

Explain Cohesion-Tension Theory


Name 3 features of a prokaryote cell that are not common of a eukaryote cell


state 3 difference between DNA replication and transcription of DNA


For a dihybrid cross, how do you find out what proportion of offspring are expected to have a certain genotype?


We're here to help

contact us iconContact ustelephone icon+44 (0) 203 773 6020
Facebook logoInstagram logoLinkedIn logo

MyTutor is part of the IXL family of brands:

© 2026 by IXL Learning