Catalase Lab

Kayla Scheffner

Mrs. Griffith

Biology- CP

Mod: A4

I. Title: Catalase Lab

II. Theory: The skin of red potatoes contains a high amount of the enzyme catalase. Catalase speeds up the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide to oxygen gas:

H2O2 --------------> H2 + O2

III. Background: According to Elmhurst, an enzyme is a protein molecule that is a biological catalyst with three characteristics. First, the basic function of an enzyme is to increase the rate of a reaction. Second, most enzymes act specifically with only one reactant called a substrate to produce products. The third and most remarkable characteristic is that enzymes are regulated from a state of low activity to high activity and vice versa (Elmhurst). According to Princeton, catalase is a common enzyme found in nearly all living organisms that are exposed to oxygen, where it functions to catalyze the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide to water and oxygen. Catalase has one of the highest turnover

Purpose: The purpose was to find out how changes in temperature affect the effectiveness of the catalase enzyme.

V. Materials: red potato 100 mL graduated cylinders beaker tongs blender 10 mL graduated cylinders hot plate cheesecloth 3% hydrogen peroxide ice

400 mL beaker test tube rack 300 mL beakers for water baths test tubes test tube holder thermometers

VI. Procedure: 1. Assembled the test tube rack with 4 test tubes. Placed 7.0mL of potato solution in each test tube. Gathered 4 of each 300mL beakers filled about half filled with tap water for the water baths.

2. Placed each test tube of potato solution in a water bath at the appropriate temperatures for your group. The test tubes must be in the water bath at the correct temperature for 10 minutes.

A. 0, 20, 40, 100 C

B. 0, 20, 60, 100 C

C. 0, 20, 80,100 C

D. 0, 20, 40,100