Which one of the given graphs shows the effect of temperature on the velocity of a typical enzymatic reaction ?

Options

A.
B.
C.
D.

Answer

To determine which graph correctly represents the effect of temperature on the velocity of a typical enzymatic reaction, we can follow these steps:

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Understanding Enzyme Activity**: Enzymes are biological catalysts that speed up reactions. Their activity is influenced by various factors, including temperature.

2. **Effect of Low Temperature**: At low temperatures, enzyme activity is reduced. This is because the molecular motion is slower, leading to fewer collisions between enzymes and substrates. Therefore, the velocity of the reaction is low.

3. **Optimum Temperature**: As the temperature increases, the enzyme activity also increases up to a certain point known as the optimum temperature. At this temperature, the velocity of the enzymatic reaction reaches its maximum.

4. **Effect of High Temperature**: Beyond the optimum temperature, the enzyme begins to denature. Denaturation is a process where the enzyme's structure is altered, leading to a loss of function. As a result, the velocity of the reaction decreases.

5. **Graph Representation**: The graph that represents this relationship typically has a bell-shaped curve. It starts low at low temperatures, rises to a peak at the optimum temperature, and then falls again at high temperatures.

6. **Conclusion**: The correct graph will illustrate this bell-shaped curve, indicating that enzyme activity increases with temperature until it reaches a maximum at the optimum temperature, after which it declines due to denaturation.