A catalyst is a substance that modifies and increases the rate of a reaction of another substance without being consumed in the process. In this case, and enzyme acts as that catalyst on certain other substances. The substance it reacts with is determined by its chemical structure. There are two certain factors that relate to an enzymes chemical structure. Those factors are its specificity and its catalytic activity. The specificity of an enzyme is attributed to a compatible fit between the shape of its active site and the shape of the substrate. The specificity of the enzyme directly relies on the structure, because the structure dictates what the enzyme is compatible with and what it isn't compatible with. The chemical structure of an enzyme relates to the catalytic activity because the active site, a small pocket on the surface if the enzyme, triggers the catalytic process. This is when a substrate occupies an active site and attaches by weak bonds. The flexibility of the chemical structure of an enzyme is responsible for the efficiency of the catalytic activity. Therefore, the physical and chemical structure of an enzyme work in partnership and relation with the specificity and catalytic activity of it, as well.
This experiment will be testing the optimum temperature for enzymatic reactions to occur. In this experiment I would make the substrate sucrose and the enzyme sucrase. Sucrase will break down sucrose into separate molecules of fructose and glucose. Nevertheless, sucrase requires a water molecule to use. When a water molecule is given off, the substance breaks down the substrate and should change color. As a result, the reaction rate can be seen. In order to further test the temperature efficiency, the sucrase, sucrose and water molecule will all be placed in three different tubes. In order to create a control group, in each of the three locations, a tube of distilled water, sucrase, and water molecule should be place placed in the water.