Investigating Catalase Essay

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INVESTIGATING CATALASE AIM: To determine the effect of changing one factor (the temperature) on activity of an enzyme (Catalase enzyme) INTRODUCTION: The enzyme catalyses the breakdown of hydrogen peroxide. Hydrogen peroxide is a by-product of metabolic reactions. It is destroyed in this way whenever it forms in a living tissue. (OCVC 2011) METHOD: (As per experiment sheet) VARIABLES: Variable Example Independent (IV) Temperatures Dependent (DV) Volume of Oxygen released in cmᶟ per 5 minutes Control (CV) Concentration of catalase extract (Enzyme) Concentration of hydrogen peroxide (Substrate) Time pH PREDICTIONS: It is predicted that as the temperature increases, the rate of reaction will increase (due to particles gaining kinetic energy, thus moving around more rapidly and increasing the chances of collision between the substrate and the enzyme) until it reaches optimum temperature, after which the rate of reaction will rapidly decrease (as the enzymes will become denatured and stop functioning).The prediction graph below illustrates how changes in temperature generally affects the initial rate of reaction and indicate optimum temperature at 37°C, however each enzyme has its own optimum temperature, depending on its structure. Prediction Graph from http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/science/add_ocr/homeostasis/importancerev4.shtml (Accessed 04th May 2011) RESULTS: Table A: Investigating the Average Initial rate of reaction at various temperature Enzyme Volume released (in cm³/5 minutes) Average Volume (in cm³/0.5 mn) Average Initial rate (in cm³ / mn) Temperature (in °C) Test 1 Test 2 Test 3 0 2.5 2.5 2.5 2.50 5.00 10 3.5 4.5 4.75 4.25 8.50 20 5 5.25 No result 5.13 10.25 30 3 3 3 3.00 6.00 35 4 5 5 4.67 9.33 45 4 5 4 4.33 8.67 50 8 8 8 8.00 16.00 55 10 11 5 8.67 17.33 60

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