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Determining the Affect of Substrate Concentration on the Initial Rate of Reaction for a Catalase Extract (from Beef Liver) in a 3 Minute Period


















Introduction:

In this investigation, it will be determined whether the changing substrate concentration (through dilution of 3% hydrogen peroxide) has an effect on the rate reaction with catalase extract (of beef liver).

The substrate that will be used is hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). An enzyme which accelerates the breakdown of hydrogen peroxide into water and oxygen gas is known as a catalase.
2H2O2--------catalase--------------> 2H2O + O2

A substance which decreases the activation energy of a chemical reaction and increase the rate of reaction is a catalyst. So a catalase is an organic catalyst. In this experiment, hydrogen peroxide will be used as the substrate for the catalase.

Enzyme activity is proportionally to substrate concentration at low substrate concentration. At higher substrate concentration there are more collisions involving the substrate and active site. Since the active sites are all taken up in high substrate concentration for the enzyme, when the substrate concentration is increased there is no effect. The graph below shows the change in the rate of reaction with higher substrate concentration, where the rate of reaction reaches a peak then is leveled off:


Source: http://www.rsc.org/education/teachers/learnnet/cfb/enzymes.htm

In this experiment, the substrate concentration will be manipulated by diluting the 3% hydrogen peroxide. Furthermore, the initial reaction rate with the catalase extract (beef liver) will be determined by the oxygen output in intervals of 20 seconds for a period of 3 minutes (180 seconds).

Research...