How do changes in temperature impact an enzymes rate of reaction?
Enzymes (proteins) work at optimal temperatures and pH. Any temperature of pH that deviates too far out of its range will destroy the enzyme or denature it. For example, this is why a high fever can be dangerous. Enzymes are protein catalysts that work optimally in a body temperature of 98.6 F. When the temperature reaches 100 F, it speeds up the catalytic properties thus lowering the activation energy of a specific reaction and speeding it up. However, should that temperature reach 105 F the enzymes will start to denature as the metabolism of the body starts to shut down. This is the same process for hypothermia. Often you hear stories of hypothermic patients just going to sleep, right? This is because the cold has slowed all of the enzymatic properties in the body until the bodies metabolism has stopped all together. Heat increases the reaction while colder temperature slow the reaction down.
