Enzymes are very specific to its reactant that it reacts on. These specific reactants are called substrates. Substrates are the molecules that goes through the changes in the chemical reaction. Enzymes are described as specific because each has an active site that is shaped differently to …show more content…
This means that each has the best temperature that it will work at, when optimum temperature is reached then the rate of reaction decreases. If the optimum temperature has been passed then the enzyme will be denatured, this means that the active site will be destroyed and won’t be able to function. After being denatured the enzyme can not be fixed. Most human enzymes work best at temperatures around our body temperature, 35-40oc. Each enzyme also has a optimal pH. For most enzymes this is around 6-8 pH, but some work better in a more acidic environment. An example is pepsin which works better at a pH of 2. Pepsin is an enzyme in the stomach which helps digest. Just as when the optimum temperature is passed, when the optimal pH is passed the enzyme is