Introduction

When we hear about enzymes and inorganic catalysts, we may not know that they are two very different concepts that play a very important role in chemistry. In this article we will explain the difference between the two.

What are enzymes?

Enzymes are proteins that catalyze (speed up) chemical reactions in living organisms. They are large, complex molecules that are made up of chains of amino acids, and their function is to assist in digestion, respiration, energy production, and many other metabolic functions.

Enzymes often have names that indicate their function, such as the enzyme lactase, which helps in the digestion of lactose, or the enzyme pepsin, which is responsible for the digestion of proteins in the stomach.

What are inorganic catalysts?

Inorganic catalysts are chemicals that speed up chemical reactions but are not proteins. These substances can be elements such as iron, copper or nickel, or compounds such as sulfuric acid or hydrogen peroxide.

Inorganic catalysts are used in industry and chemistry to accelerate chemical reactions and improve process performance. For example, platinum is a catalyst used in the manufacture of chemicals, and iron is used in the production of ammonia.

Differences between enzymes and inorganic catalysts

Although both enzymes and inorganic catalysts speed up chemical reactions, there are several differences between the two:

From

Enzymes are proteins produced by living organisms, while inorganic catalysts are chemicals found In nature or are produced artificially.

Specificity

Enzymes are very specific and only catalyze one chemical reaction or one type of molecule. For example, the enzyme lactase only acts on lactose. In contrast, inorganic catalysts can catalyze a wide variety of chemical reactions.

Activity

Enzymes have greater activity at specific temperatures and pH. If exposed to very high or very low temperatures, or if the pH of the environment changes, enzymes can become denatured and lose their activity. Inorganic catalysts, on the other hand, are more resistant to changes in temperature and pH.

Regulatory

Enzymes can be regulated by the body to increase or decrease their activity. For example, the body may produce more or less lactase depending on the amount of lactose consumed. On the other hand, inorganic catalysts cannot be regulated by the body, but their activity depends on the quantity and concentration of the substance.

Conclusion

In summary, although enzymes and inorganic catalysts have similar functions of accelerating chemical reactions, they are very different in terms of origin, specificity, activity and regulation. Both are important in chemistry and biology, and their study allows us to better understand the processes that occur in living organisms and world natural.

Sources:

• Alberts, B. et al. (2014). Molecular Biology of the Cell. New York: Garland Science.
• Buchanan, B. et al. (2015). Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. New York: W. W. Norton & Company.
• Lehninger, A.L. et al. (2017). Principles of Biochemistry. New York: W. H. Freeman & Company.

Background image obtained from Freepik

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