An Effect of an Acidic Fluid on Enzymatic Activity - Lab Report Example

The researcher tells that enzymes are made up of protein molecules. They catalyze biochemical reactions. The enzyme catalyzes the reaction where the reactants are an enzyme and the substrate. Substrates combine at an active site. One enzyme is capable of catalyzing one reaction only. Proteins are highly sensitive molecules and they get denatured if their temperature is altered. Proteins are also sensitive to the pH conditions of the medium in which they are present; pH directly influences the molecular structure, it also affects the structure of the amino acids.

Amino acids are the basic units of protein molecules and are amphoteric in nature, suggesting that they maintain the molecular equilibrium. Any alteration in the pH will either enable the amino acid to lose electron or proton. One extra electron alters the structure of amino acids. This directly influences the structure or alters the function of the enzyme. The pH ranges from 1 to 14 on the pH scale. The presence of H+ in solution generates acidic condition causes acidity. More the number of H+ ions more acidic the condition will be and hence the PH will be lower.

The pH value of 7 is considered as the neutral pH while pH value of more than 7 and up to 14 is considered as the basic pH. The basic pH has more OH- ions Acidic pH influences the structure of the enzyme and also its activity.