Reaction Enzyme Lab

The human body is composed of hundreds of thousands of cells. Among these cells various functions are carried out in order to keep the body properly functioning. Chemical reactions play into a cells ability to carry out a function, cells use fuel in the form protein. A common protein is an enzyme; it can be defined as “a protein that serves as a biological catalyst, changing the rate of a chemical reaction without being consumed by the reaction.” (Campbell, 2009). In the process of a reaction enzyme can help to either move a reaction along of completely speed up the process. When enzymes are helping to aid in a reaction it acts upon what is called the active site. An active site binds together the enzyme and substrate; this creates an enzyme

Reactions tubes were created; there was a total of 10 reaction tubes. Each tube was filled with 2.0ml of a buffer solution with the recorded pH level including 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11, then 2.0ml of potato extract which acted as the enzyme catalase for the cause of the experiment, at this point in time 2.0ml of hydrogen peroxide was added to the reaction tube. As the hydrogen peroxide was added to the tube a rubber stopper was placed into the tube. At the end of the stopper was a gas production tube, this tube was then submerged into a beaker full of water. Within this beaker contained the graduated cylinder full of water. As the gas production tube was submerged into the beaker and placed under the mouth of the cylinder. At this point in time the reaction tube began to gently be shaken in a back and forth motion, this was a continuous shake. A soon as the rubber stopped was placed onto the reaction tube, the length in time was recorded for 60 seconds. At the end of the 60 seconds the gas tube was removed from the beaker of water and data was recorded. The data recorded was the rate at which oxygen was produced ml/minutes. This process was repeated with all ten pH buffers and data was recorded. After the 60 time length for each process, oxygen production/accumulation was recorded by measuring the graduated cylinder that was submerged in water. One can observe that there were differences in which the rate of oxygen was produced ml/min between the group procedure and class procedure. It was noted that all pH levels that were tested between the group and class were the same as well as the enzyme catalase. Each reaction tube contained 2ml of the three part solutions to create the reaction. When contrasting the two groups it is notable that the rate in which oxygen is