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hivesaeed4
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Why is water required to be present in biological processes involving catalysis. I read that online and the way it was written made it look sort of obvious ( like, duh ) but I don't understand it. Help?
Water plays a crucial role in biological catalysis by acting as both a reactant and a solvent. It can donate or accept protons, which are essential for many biochemical reactions, and it can also break down large molecules into smaller, more manageable ones.
Water molecules have a unique structure that allows them to form hydrogen bonds with other molecules, including enzymes and substrates. This helps to stabilize the reactants and facilitate their interactions, making catalysis more efficient and specific.
Water is a polar molecule, meaning it has a slight positive charge on one end and a slight negative charge on the other. This polarity allows it to interact with charged molecules, such as ions and polar amino acids in enzymes, and facilitate their reactions.
While water itself is not considered a catalyst, it can contribute to catalysis by creating a favorable environment for biochemical reactions to occur. It is also involved in certain enzymatic reactions, such as hydrolysis, where it helps to break down larger molecules into smaller ones.
The presence of water can greatly affect the kinetics of biological reactions. Its ability to stabilize reactants and lower the activation energy of reactions allows for faster and more efficient catalysis. Additionally, water can also help to regulate the rate of reactions by changing its concentration or availability in different environments.