Loading…
Loading…
GCSE Biology · key term
The temperature at which an enzyme-controlled process has its highest rate under the stated conditions.
Used by AQA, Edexcel and OCR
Specification 4.4.1.2 · Paper 1
The temperature at which an enzyme-controlled process has its maximum rate.
Revise: Factors Affecting the Rate of PhotosynthesisThe rate therefore increases up to an optimum temperature.
Specification 6.3, 6.4 · Paper 2
The temperature at which a process occurs at its fastest rate under the conditions considered.
Heating helps only below the optimum temperature; above it, the rate can fall as enzymes denature.
Create a free account to read GCSE Biology revision notes for your exam board and track your progress.
As temperature rises, particles move faster and enzyme-controlled reactions usually happen more quickly, so the rate of photosynthesis increases. It reaches an optimum temperature at which the rate is highest under those conditions.
The temperature at which a process reaches its highest rate under the conditions being considered.
Specification B1.4e · Paper 1 (Foundation), Paper 3 (Higher)
Revise: Rate of photosynthesisSuccessful collisions occur more frequently, so the rate increases until an optimum temperature is reached. The precise optimum is not a fixed value for every plant: it depends on the organism and its conditions.