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*
Testing the reaction with different concentrations of the substrate, hydrogen peroxide
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Measure and write down the time it takes for the paper to reach the surface from the instant the paper touches the peroxide.
- Repeat steps 2-4 for each concentration of hydrogen peroxide.
- 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)
- Prepare different concentrations of enzyme by adding 0ml, 5ml, 10ml, and 20ml of water to 1ml of enzyme solution.
- Pour l0 ml of 3% hydrogen peroxide into a test tube and measure how high the hydrogen peroxide reaches
- 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.
- 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.
- Repeat the procedures 2-4 for the rest of the different enzyme concentrations.
- 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
- Prepare a set of solutions (5 ml each) of pH 2, 4, 5, 7, 9, 10 and 12 using water, vinegar and baking soda.
- 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
- Soak a paper disc in the enzyme solution for 5 seconds. Drain the excess on a coffee filter for 5 seconds.
- 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.
- Repeat the procedures 2-4, adding the solutions of different pHs each time to the hydrogen peroxide.
- 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
- 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
- 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.
- 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.
- Repeat procedures 2 and 3 for all the different temperatures of water baths.
- 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.