CHEMICAL PHENOMENA IN LIFE 



If k is the constant of the reaction velocity, x the 

 transformed albumin, M the not yet decomposed 

 albumin, then the equation can be written as k = 

 x-M, or M=k- l j-(i). 



According to the rule of Schutz, the ratio of the 

 transformed albumin x to the time wanted for the 

 transformation is 



or x = '. 

 If we differentiate, we find 



2X'dx=kl-dt or ^ = *- f -?. 

 dt 2 x 



As long as M is proportional to the reaction 

 velocity (i) Schutz' rule must therefore be valid. 

 Another question is whether even enzyme 

 reactions are of the first order, that is, are mono- 

 molecular reactions or not. We see that the 

 question is of great importance. In the case of the 

 enzyme reaction being really of the first order, we 

 know that only one substance in its concentration 

 is altered during the reaction. And that cannot 

 be any other than the substance on which the 

 enzyme is acting. Consequently the enzyme con- 

 centration itself remains constant. In this way we 

 obtain the proof for the identity of enzyme re- 

 actions and catalytic reactions. As early as 1890 

 excellent papers were published by O'Sullivan and 

 Thompson on the reaction between cane sugar 

 and invertase. These authors came to the conclu- 

 108 



