Chemical Reactions and Enzymes

What do a decaying apple, a rusty bike chain, a burnt piece of wood, and the lunch digesting in your stomach all have in common? They are all the products of chemical reactions. Chemical reactions involve either the breaking down or putting together of molecules during various processes in your body. In this topic, you will learn about the importance of chemical reactions in living organisms and how enzymes are involved in those reactions.

Essential Questions

• What is a chemical reaction?
• What are the parts of a chemical reaction?
• Why are enzymes important in living organisms?
• What is meant by enzyme specificity?