Catalase Experiment Essay

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Investigation of the effect of Substrate concentration on Catalase activity Research Question: To investigate enzyme kinetics, using catalase enzyme from the yeast extract. Background Information: Enzymes are proteins which catalyze reactions that take place in the body or they increase the rate of the biological reactions. In an enzyme catalyzed reaction, the substrate binds to the active site and forms the enzyme-substrate complex with the enzyme. The enzyme breaks the bonds present in the substrate; the final product of this reaction leaves the enzyme which remains unchanged after the reaction. Catalase is a substance which is produced by the liver to break down hydrogen peroxide. The reaction for the decomposition of Hydrogen Peroxide is as follows- 2H2O2 (liquid)—catalase --- 2H2O (liquid) + O2 (gas) Hydrogen Peroxide is a clear liquid which is commonly used as bleach and as disinfectants or antiseptic. Even cells in our body produce Hydrogen Peroxide as a part of the Immune system to kill bacteria. In this experiment, the effect of different concentrations of the Hydrogen Peroxide solution on the 2 different types of catalase given was investigated. The paper discs were dipped in the samples given, one being a Yeast solution and the other a Catalase solution. After that, the discs were then immersed into the H2O2 solution. The oxygen produced from the enzyme reaction will form on the disc and cause it to float upwards to the surface of the H2O2 solution. Through these procedures we can investigate the effects of substrate concentration on the rate of reaction. We can manipulate the substrate concentration by varying the concentration of H2O2 taken during each trial of the experiment and measure the rate of reaction by measuring the time taken for the paper disc to float to the surface. Hypothesis: The predicted results of

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