Which of the following industrial processes depends on the action of enzymes?
Answer Details
The industrial process that depends on the action of enzymes is the brewing of beer. Enzymes are proteins that act as catalysts, which means they speed up chemical reactions without being consumed in the process. In the brewing process, enzymes break down complex sugars in grains like barley into simpler sugars like glucose, which can then be fermented by yeast to produce alcohol and carbon dioxide. This process is called mashing and it relies on the action of enzymes naturally present in the grains, or added to the mash in the form of malted barley. So, enzymes play a crucial role in converting the complex carbohydrates in grains into the simple sugars needed to produce beer.