Enzyme Rate of Reaction

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Catalase is an enzyme which is found in most living organisms. It catalyses the decomposition of Hydrogen Peroxide into water and oxygen. 2H2O2 + Catalase >>> 2H2O + O2 Catalase dramatically reduces the activation energy needed for the reaction. Without catalase the decomposition would take much longer, and would not be fast enough to sustain human life. Hydrogen peroxide is also a dangerous, very potent by-product of metabolism, so it is essential that it is broken down quickly, otherwise it would cause damage to cells. Hypothesis I believe that as the concentration of the hydrogen peroxide (substrate) decreases, the rate of reaction will decrease consequently. This is because there will be fewer collisions between the substrate and enzyme molecules (catalase in yeast) – because there are fewer molecules of hydrogen peroxide, so there will be a decrease in enzyme-substrate complexes formed. The reaction will then stop because all of the active sites become saturated with substrate because the enzyme is the limiting factor. This will result in a decreased volume of oxygen being produced as one of the by-products of this reaction. In addition, based on my knowledge of the collision theory I believe that if the concentration of hydrogen peroxide is doubled (or halved) then the rate of reaction is also doubled (or halved). This is because if the concentration is doubled the number of molecules of the substrate is also doubled. This means there will be twice as many successful collisions. Therefore it is true to say that in theory: rate µ concentration. I will investigate if this is true for this reaction. Preliminary work I have done some preliminary work and as a result, have identified problems that may occur in my main investigation, such as timing, measuring and keeping variables that I am not investigating constant, (such as temperature

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