Properties of Water, Biochemistry & Enzymes

Suggested Time : 11 Days

Objectives

Students will:

• explain why the special properties of water make it essential for life, including:

  • polarity, hydrogen bonding, cohesive and adhesive behavior, ability to moderate temperature, universal solvent behavior, and expansion upon freezing

• explain why the special properties of water make it essential for life, including:

  • polarity, hydrogen bonding, cohesive and adhesive behavior, ability to moderate temperature, universal solvent behavior, and expansion upon freezing

• predict the effect pH, temperature, and enzyme concentration have on enzyme activity

• explain how an enzyme increases the rate of a biochemical reaction

  • enzymes decrease the activation energy of reactions by acting as a catalyst that is not consumed during the course of the reaction

• analyze graphs from an experiment to draw conclusions on activation energy