In this report we will discuss enzymes and the time it takes for certain variables to react with the specific enzyme. A main condition for a reaction to occur is that the molecules must interact and "collide" with each other (Harper College, Unknown). This is the basis of collision theory. According to the theory, the speed of a chemical reaction is equivalent to the number of collisions between the reacting molecules. The more frequently molecules collide, the more they react with each other and the faster the reaction rate (Harper College, Unknown). An enzyme is a biological catalyst that increases the rate of a chemical reaction by providing an alternative reaction pathway. of lower activation energy, accordingly, using collision theory. Enzymes, during a reaction, do not undergo any chemical changes and remain unchanged at the end of the reaction and can therefore be used several times (Spenceley, 2004). There are many categories and subcategories of enzymes, including: Oxidoreductases, hydrolases, isomerases, and ligases (Harper College, Unknown) and this report will focus on the hydrolase category, particularly the digestive enzyme amylase. This specific enzyme catalyzes the hydrolysis of polysaccharides or more commonly known as glycogen, starch and similar molecules (Unknown). The products of this catalysis are oligosaccharides or simple sugars such as maltose and glucose. Enzymes are extremely specific, meaning that they catalyze only the reaction for which they are designed (Spenceley, 2004). These molecules on which an enzyme acts are called substrates. The specific region of the enzyme that combines with the substrate is called the active site. Subst bonding...... middle of paper ......it is more common for molecules to collide. When the temperature increases beyond a certain point, the increased energy begins to cause disruptions in the enzyme's structure, preventing the polypeptide chain from folding back to its original conformation; This is called denaturation. Denaturation also occurs under extreme conditions, that is, below the normal body temperature of the species in which the enzyme operates. Any change in the tertiary structure at the active site hinders the catalytic activity. The pH of an enzyme environment can also affect its activity. Some enzymes only work effectively within a certain pH range. This is due to the charge of acidic and basic amino acids located at the active site. Any out-of-range change in environmental pH can result in denaturation of the enzyme. The pH range is determined by where the enzyme is found in the body..