A student investigated the effect of temperature on the activity of an enzyme from the human body.
The Table shows the results.
Table
| Temperature in ∘C^{\circ}\text{C}∘C | Rate of reaction in arbitrary units |
|---|---|
| 20 | 12 |
| 30 | 25 |
| 37 | 40 |
| 45 | 22 |
| 55 | 2 |
Give the temperature at which the rate of reaction was highest.
Calculate how many times faster the reaction was at 37 ∘C37\ ^{\circ}\text{C}37 ∘C than at 20 ∘C20\ ^{\circ}\text{C}20 ∘C.
Give your answer to one decimal place.
Explain why the rate of reaction was very low at 55 ∘C55\ ^{\circ}\text{C}55 ∘C.
Use the information in the Table to explain why it is important that the body keeps its core temperature close to 37 ∘C37\ ^{\circ}\text{C}37 ∘C.
44 exam-style questions on Edexcel GCSE Biology 7.3 Homeostasis and thermoregulation, covering 7.3.1 Importance of a constant internal environment, 7.3.2 Importance of homeostasis, 7.3.3a Thermoregulation via the skin and hypothalamus, and 7.3.3b Vasoconstriction and vasodilation in thermoregulation. Each one has a worked solution and a mark scheme showing where the marks go.