catalases
Catalases
- Importance
- What is a catalase?
- Where are they located?
- Structure of a catalase
- Functions of a catalase
- Why are they efficient?
- What affect the activities?
- Applications of catalases
Experiment
- Purpose
- Hypothesis
- Materials
- Procedures
- Observations
- Analysis
- Conclusions
Other
- Bibliography
- Index
Procedures
*Before beginning, prepare the potato enzyme solution by placing thin slices of a medium sized peeled potato into a blender with 4 ice cubes and 250 ml of ice water. Filter the mixture through a cheese cloth and store it in a dark, cold place throughout the experiment*

potato blender blender cheesecloth

Testing the reaction with different concentrations of the substrate, hydrogen peroxide
  1. Prepare 10 ml of the following concentrations of H2O2: 0%, 0.l%, 0.5%, 1%, 3% and 6% in a test tube and measure how high the hydrogen peroxide reaches.
  2. Take one paper disc and immerse the paper in enzyme solution for 5 seconds. Drain excess juice from the paper disk by touching it on a coffee filter for 5 seconds.
  3. Place the paper disc into the 0.1 % hydrogen peroxide solution and push it to the bottom of the test tube by using a chopstick. The oxygen produced, if any, will be seen as bubbles and will be trapped in the fibres of the paper disc, causing it to rise to the surface.
  4. Measure and write down the time it takes for the paper to reach the surface from the instant the paper touches the peroxide.
  5. Repeat steps 2-4 for each concentration of hydrogen peroxide.
  6. Calculate the reaction rate by dividing the height of the hydrogen peroxide found in procedure 1 by the time taken for the paper disc to surface. Draw a graph showing the substrate (hydrogen peroxide) concentrations on the X-axis and the rate of reaction on the Y-axis.
Testing the reaction with different concentrations of enzyme (catalase)
  1. Prepare different concentrations of enzyme by adding 0ml, 5ml, 10ml, and 20ml of water to 1ml of enzyme solution.
  2. Pour l0 ml of 3% hydrogen peroxide into a test tube and measure how high the hydrogen peroxide reaches
  3. Immerse a paper disc into the enzyme solution with 5ml ml of water added to it. Wait for five seconds and drain it on a coffee filter for 5 seconds again.
  4. Place the disc into the hydrogen peroxide and poke it down with a chopstick. Measure and record the time from the moment the disc contacts the hydrogen peroxide to the time when it floats to the surface.
  5. Repeat the procedures 2-4 for the rest of the different enzyme concentrations.
  6. Calculate the reaction rate by dividing the height of the hydrogen peroxide found in procedure 2 by the time taken for the paper disc to surface. Draw a graph showing the concentrations of the enzyme on the X-axis and the rate of reaction on the Y-axis.
Testing the reaction with different pH
  1. Prepare a set of solutions (5 ml each) of pH 2, 4, 5, 7, 9, 10 and 12 using water, vinegar and baking soda.
  2. Add 5 ml of 3% hydrogen peroxide into 5 ml of the pH 2 solution in a test tube. Measure how high the mixture reaches
  3. Soak a paper disc in the enzyme solution for 5 seconds. Drain the excess on a coffee filter for 5 seconds.
  4. Place the disc into the hydrogen peroxide and pH 2 solution mixture and poke it down with a chopstick. Time how long it takes for the disk to rise to the surface, from the moment it hits the mixture.
  5. Repeat the procedures 2-4, adding the solutions of different pHs each time to the hydrogen peroxide.
  6. Calculate the reaction rate by dividing the height of the hydrogen peroxide found in procedure 2 by the time taken for the paper disc to surface. Draw a graph showing the pH of the system on the X-axis and the rate of reaction on the Y-axis.
Testing reaction with different temperature
  1. Prepare water baths for the following temperatures using ice water, ice and hot water: 0°C, 5°C, 25°C, 30°C, 35°C, 40°C, 50°C, 60°C, 70°C, 80°C, 90°C, and 100°C
  2. Place one test tube containing 10 ml of 3% hydrogen peroxide (measure how high the peroxide reaches first!) and one test tube containing 5 ml of enzyme solution in the 5°C water bath. Allow them to sit for 5 minutes, while making sure that the temperature of the bath is kept constant during this period.
  3. Remove the test tubes from the bath. Dip one paper disc into the enzyme solution for 5 seconds and drain the excess on filter paper for another 5 seconds before immersing the disc into the hydrogen peroxide. Once the disc touches the hydrogen peroxide, measure and record the time it takes for the paper to surface.
  4. Repeat procedures 2 and 3 for all the different temperatures of water baths.
  5. Calculate the reaction rate by dividing the height of the hydrogen peroxide found in procedure 2 by the time taken for the paper disc to surface. Draw a graph showing the different temperatures of the system on the X-axis and the rate of reaction on the Y-axis.

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