Observing Enzyme Catalase Activity at Different Conditions

Observing Enzyme Catalase Activity at Different Conditions

Introduction

Living organisms use organic catalysts called enzymes to speed up their chemical reactions. Catalysts act as chemical agents that speed up the rate of a reaction without being consumed in the reaction. The activity of these enzymes can either be fast or slow or stopped according to the factors which influence them. The purpose of the enzyme catalase lab was to examine how different conditions affected enzyme activity. This experiment examined how catalase reacts with H2O2 and also how environmental conditions affected the rate of this reaction. Variables included were pH, temperature, H2O2, and tissue. The hypothesis is that the conditions in which enzymes are found will determine their activity.

Methods

In preparation for this lab experiment, tissue such as liver, apple, potato, and beef steak had to be grinded with a little water and sand using a mortar and pestle. Once all four tissues were grinded, the fluid extract from the four tissues was saved for the experiments.

Experiment 1: The materials used were four test tubes which were numbered from one to four. In tube labeled number one it was prepared with a pinch of sand. In tube labeled number two it was prepared with 1ml of water. In tube number three it was prepared with a pinch of MnO2. In tube number four it was prepared with a drop of liver extract. To each of the four tubes, 1ml of H2O2 was added. After a minute had passed, the foam thickness in each of the four tubes was measured in millimeters.

Experiment 2: A new set of test tubes were used and numbered from one to four. Tube number was prepared with one drop of apple extract. Tube number two was prepared with one drop of potato extract. Tube number three was prepared with one drop of beef steak extract and lastly tube number four was prepared with a drop of liver extract. 1ml of H2O2 was added to each of the four tubes and the foam thickness which occurred after one...