Table of contents

Skip topic navigation

1. A Review of General Chemistry5h 5m
2. Molecular Representations1h 14m
3. Acids and Bases2h 46m
4. Alkanes and Cycloalkanes4h 17m
5. Chirality3h 39m
6. Thermodynamics and Kinetics1h 22m
7. Substitution Reactions1h 48m
8. Elimination Reactions2h 30m
9. Alkenes and Alkynes2h 9m
10. Addition Reactions3h 19m
11. Radical Reactions1h 58m
12. Alcohols, Ethers, Epoxides and Thiols2h 42m
13. Alcohols and Carbonyl Compounds2h 17m
14. Synthetic Techniques1h 26m
15. Analytical Techniques:IR, NMR, Mass Spect7h 3m
16. Conjugated Systems6h 13m
17. Ultraviolet Spectroscopy51m
18. Aromaticity2h 34m
19. Reactions of Aromatics: EAS and Beyond5h 1m
20. Phenols55m
21. Aldehydes and Ketones: Nucleophilic Addition4h 56m
22. Carboxylic Acid Derivatives: NAS2h 51m
23. The Chemistry of Thioesters, Phophate Ester and Phosphate Anhydrides1h 10m
24. Enolate Chemistry: Reactions at the Alpha-Carbon1h 53m
25. Condensation Chemistry2h 9m
26. Amines1h 43m
27. Heterocycles2h 0m
28. Carbohydrates5h 53m
29. Amino Acids4h 20m
30. Peptides and Proteins2h 42m
31. Catalysis in Organic Reactions1h 30m
32. Lipids 2h 50m
33. The Organic Chemistry of Metabolic Pathways2h 52m
34. Nucleic Acids1h 32m
35. Transition Metals6h 14m
36. Synthetic Polymers1h 49m

3. Acids and Bases

Acids and Bases

Organic Chemistry

3. Acids and Bases

Acids and Bases

Previous problemNext problem

Struggling with Organic Chemistry?

Join thousands of students who trust us to help them ace their exams!Watch the first video

Multiple Choice

How are enzymes in cells affected by changes in pH?

Enzymes change their substrate specificity with pH changes.

Enzymes become denatured and lose their function at extreme pH levels.

Enzymes increase their activity at any pH level.

Enzymes are unaffected by changes in pH.

Previous problemNext problem

Verified step by step guidance

Understand that enzymes are proteins that act as catalysts in biochemical reactions, and their activity is highly dependent on their three-dimensional structure.

Recognize that the structure of enzymes is stabilized by various interactions, including hydrogen bonds and ionic interactions, which can be sensitive to changes in pH.

Learn that pH affects the ionization state of amino acid side chains, particularly those that are involved in the active site of the enzyme or in maintaining the enzyme's structure.

Realize that extreme pH levels can lead to the denaturation of enzymes, which means the enzyme loses its specific shape and, consequently, its ability to bind to substrates effectively.

Conclude that while enzymes have an optimal pH range where they function best, deviations from this range can result in decreased activity or denaturation, leading to a loss of function.