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The upcoming discussion will update you about the differences between Inorganic Catalysts and Enzymes.
Difference # Inorganic Catalysts:
1. They are inorganic in nature.
2. There is little difference in the size of catalyst and substrate molecules.
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3. Catalysts are small molecules or simple mineral ions.
4. They have comparatively very low molecular weight.
5. Catalysts operate in the non-living or physical world.
6. They are less efficient.
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7. A catalyst can catalyse diverse reactions.
8. Their functioning is not controlled by regulator molecules.
9. Catalysts are not sensitive to small changes in temperature. They usually operate at high temperature.
10. Catalysts are not influenced by small changes in pH.
11. Inorganic catalysts generally work at high temperature and pressure.
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12. Protein poisons do not have any adverse effect on catalysts.
13. Catalysts are not much influenced by short wave radiations.
Difference # Enzymes:
1. Enzymes are proteinaceous in nature.
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2. Enzymes are quite large as compared to the size of substrate molecules.
3. They are complex macromolecules with three dimensional structure.
4. Enzymes have a high molecular weight.
5. They originate in biological world and mediate biochemical reactions.
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6. They are highly efficient.
7. An enzyme catalyses specific reaction of a single or only a few substrates.
8. Enzyme activity can be regulated by specific substances which change the -conformation of enzyme molecules.
9. Enzymes are effective in a narrow range of temperature found in living beings. They get inactivated at low temperatures (10°C and below) and denatured at high temperatures (50°C and above).
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10. They function effectively only within a narrow range of pH.
11. They carry out their activity at normal temperature and pressure.
12. Enzymes are poisoned by a number of chemicals called protein poisons.
13. They get denatured by rays of shorter wavelength.
