The Effects of Temperature on the Rate of Clotting Milk and Rennet

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The Effects of Temperature on the Rate of Clotting Milk and Rennet Introduction ------------ The following experiment investigates the effects of different temperatures on a mixture of rennet and whole milk. On having the choice between testing the mixtures reactions at various temperatures, or testing the mixture with various amounts of concentration of rennet, my partner and I decided upon the first option. We made this decision as we felt it would be valuable to our scientific knowledge if we had a better understanding of how different temperatures can effect the behaviour of an enzyme, such as Rennin, which is also known as Chymosin. Our scientific knowledge tells us that enzymes work most efficiently at specific temperatures, and this experiment helps us to discover exactly which temperatures they are. It is important to remember that the Rennet was mixed with milk, which is perhaps one of the most important sources of nutrition in the world, and drunk by billions of people everyday. It is particularly important to babies and growing children. It provides: · Calcium, to build strong bones and teeth · Protein, to build and repair muscle tissue · Potassium, to help regulate our body's fluid balance · Vitamin A And many other useful vitamins and nutrients which help to maintain a healthy body. As wonderful a necessity that milk is, it is also an extremely perishable food. Milk is usually stored in the fridge, because it preserves better at a low temperature, but even so, once it has passed its sell by date, it is no longer suitable for consumption. Although the milk itself does not have a very long life, other foods and some dairy products can be made using it. Cheese would be the main example of this, which can be produced simply by the curdling of milk. Rennin, found in the substance rennet, is a milk-coagulating enzyme capable of assisting in the production of cheese. Therefore the temperatures at which the milk and rennet coagulate best at in this experiment, are

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