Question

Why does the temperature affect enzyme activity?

Answer 1

This is due to the increase in velocity and kinetic energy that follows temperatureincreases. ... This results in more molecules reaching the activation energy, which increases the rate of the reactions. Since the molecules are also moving faster, collisions between enzymes and substrates also increase.

Answer 2

Temperature of a system is a measure of kinetic energy of the molecules present in the system. Increase of temperature means more kinetic energy of molecules in the system and decrease of temperature is due the decreased kinetic energy of the system.

Rate of enzyme catalyzed reaction depends on temperature, it decreases with the decrease in temperature and increases with the increase in temperature i.e. with every 10 fold increase in temperature, enzyme activity increases to 50 to 100% and enzymes work maximum at their optimum temperature which is 37.5 degree centigrade for enzymes working in human body, but the activity of enzymes starts to decrease with further rise and rise in temperature and they may start to denature.

Hence enzymes work maximum at their optimum temperature.