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Catalase Enzyme Lab

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As we study biomolecules, the subject of how do enzymes work comes up. The reasoning behind the catalase enzyme lab was to see how enzymes break down compounds. My objective being to see how the catalase enzyme will react to liver, potato and apple. We will also use a base or acid to see how these factors will affect the independent variable. My hypothesis is the liver and potato will react to the peroxide but the apple will not.
In order to complete this lab, you will need the following materials; six test tubes and a test tube holder, a ten-milliliter graduated cylinder, 40 milliliter of 3% hydrogen peroxide solution, scissors and tweezers, stirring rod, along with liver, apples and potatoes. First you will place a slice of liver in one …show more content…

The reaction of peroxide with liver creates oxygen. The reaction giving off heat. When it came to the potato and apple, the apple was the only one to contain more catalase. I think this because it had more of a reaction towards the peroxide. The optimum temperature for the catalase is cold. The base and neutral had a higher effect on the enzymes, which tells us acidity messes up the enzymes and it doesn’t produce a reaction. The catalase is the enzyme and the substrate is the peroxide. The peroxide helps the catalase break down into the oxygen. Catalase is reusable. Temperature can affect the reaction rate tremendously. If the temperature is too hot or cold, the enzyme shape cannot stay in place. If the pH levels are affected, the enzyme will become denatured and the enzyme shape will not stay in place. We had three different tests to run, a boiled liver test, a warm water test and a cold water test. With these factors, you can see how fast the reaction rate in the optimum temperature. We also tested out the pH level by using acetic acids, a bicarbonate solution and distilled water in order to see how it would affect the liver. Basically, unless the temperature or pH level were manipulated the liver would fizzle up because of the peroxide. The temperature or pH level manipulation will change the enzyme shape, creating a reaction or no

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