The graph below illustrates the data obtained from reactions at various temperatures of an enzyme with its specific substrate at pH .
Based on the data, what results can be predicted if the experiment is carried out at ?
Select an Answer
No prediction would be valid.
An amount of product equal to that at would be formed.
An amount of product equal to that at the optimum temperature would be formed.
An amount of product equal to that at would be formed.
Little or no product would be formed.
View Correct Answer
The correct answer is that relatively little product would be formed (E). This question requires you to extrapolate from the data in order to predict the amount of product that would likely be formed at a temperature lower than the temperatures tested. Choice (A) indicates that no prediction can be made. While the amount of product at degrees can not be known with certainty, it can be predicted from the information provided, so choice A is not correct. Choices (B), (C), and (D) suggest that the same amount of product will be formed at
degrees as at
,
, and
degrees, respectively. This is unlikely, based on the pattern of the data. Between
and
degrees the amount of product formed varies with temperature, so the most reasonable prediction is that there would be very little product formed at
degrees.