Chapter 5, Problem 1IA

Summary Introduction

To determine: Whether V increases as S increases in the given problem.

Introduction: It is given that French chemist Victor Henri discovered that the hypothesis saying an enzyme physically binds to its substrate is true.

Explanation of Solution

Victor Henri performed an experiment in which he keeps increasing the concentration of substrate (S) to observe the rate of reaction (V). It can be seen from the given graph that as the concentration of substrate increases, the reaction rate increases.

Summary Introduction

To determine: Whether V increases steadily or by smaller and smaller amounts.

Introduction: The extra energy required to break chemical bonds to initiate a chemical reaction is termed as activation energy. Catalysts decrease the activation energy of the reaction and increase the rate of reaction.

Explanation of Solution

The graph given in the problem shows that the reaction rate increases as the concentration of substrate increases. It can be observed that the reaction rate increases steadily with an increase in substrate concentration until trial. The reaction rate increases by smaller amounts after the trial.

Summary Introduction

To determine: Whether there is a maximum reaction rate in the given problem.

Introduction: In a chemical reaction, a substrate is an original molecule that converts into a product at the end at a specific reaction rate.

Explanation of Solution

It has been observed that the reaction rate increases by smaller amounts after trial. This means the reaction rate can increase till a particular concentration of the substrate. Therefore, there is a maximum reaction rate that is equal to the maximum substrate concentration used in the trial.