Enzymes, protein catalysts, are integral to the survival of the cell by speeding up biological reactions.
Today the students reviewed thermochemistry and the basics behind reactions, and then explored the concepts behind kinetics and why reactions occur. The students expanded upon this knowledge through the lens of biochemistry with a discussion of enzymes, substrates and cofactors. Through a hands-on experiment done together remotely, the students observed how addition of catalase (via yeast) sped up the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide into hydrogen and oxygen gas. We will continue to discuss the mechanism of yeast catalase and how this leads to a speedup in the reaction.