Chapter 24.3, Problem 21LC

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation: To describe three properties of enzymes.

Concept introduction: Enzyme is the chemical component that helps a biological organism speed up its metabolism or helps in various chemical reactions.

Answer to Problem 21LC

The three important properties of enzymes are − catalytic properties, reversibility, and specificity.

Explanation of Solution

Enzymes are protein catalysts, which is a type of biological catalyst that helps to increase the rate of various biochemical reactions occurring inside a living organism.

Enzyme increases only the rate of reaction.

The reaction catalyzed by an enzyme is reversible in nature.

The enzymes are specific in nature, i.e., one enzyme can catalyze only a specific substrate. For example, sucrose can be hydrolyzed only by the enzyme sucrase.