Research Question: How Does Temperature Affect the Rate of Reaction of the Breakdown of Hydrogen by Catalase?

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Biology Internal Assessment – Harri Besceli The breakdown of hydrogen peroxide by catalase Research question: How does temperature affect the rate of reaction of the breakdown of hydrogen by catalase? This will be answered by measuring the quantity of oxygen produced over five minutes at different temperatures. We can compare these results, telling us at which temperatures enzyme activity is at its highest and at which it is at its lowest. The dependent variable is the quantity of oxygen produced and the independent variable is the temperature. The controlled variables are; pH, enzyme concentration, enzyme volume, surface area of the enzyme, substrate concentration, substrate volume and time. Introduction: Enzymes are proteins that act as catalysts. They increase the rate of a reaction, but are not used up in the reaction themselves. In this experiment, the enzyme catalase is used to speed up the reaction in which hydrogen peroxide is broken down into oxygen and water. This is shown by the symbol equation 2H2O2 2H2O+O2 The four main factors that usually affect the rate of an enzyme reaction are: pH, temperature, substrate concentration and the enzyme concentration. Apparatus: 2 Fresh Potatoes (of the same breed) 1 Knife 1 large watertight container (preferably transparent) ~ 2 litre: To hold the water 1 250ml measuring cylinder 1 water bath 1 rubber stopper with a hole in and rubber tubes 2 X 6 Test tubes 1 thermometer 1 Stop watch 6 X 50ml Hydrogen Peroxide (30%) 1 set of Digital Scales 1 Clamp and stand 1 Millimetre ruler 1 syringe 1 pair of Tongs Method: 1. Cut the potatoes using the potato cutter, and then cut the piece using a knife to a weight of 2.5 grams. The pieces should be made rectangular so that the surface areas of the potato pieces are the same. 2. Using a syringe, measure out 50ml of hydrogen

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