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Introduction
The purpose of this lab was to determine the rate of catalase (enzyme) on the conversion of h2o2 (reactant) to water and oxygen gas. ... Once finished with this lab we should be able to measure the effects of changes in temperature, pH, enzyme concentration, and substrate concentration on reaction rates of an enzyme-catalase reaction in a controlled experiment as well as explain how environmental factors affect the rate of enzyme reactions.
Enzymes are proteins produced by living cells. ... Thus enzymes are very specific in their jobs in reactions. ... The four factors which can affect enzymes are salt concentration, pH, temperature, activations and inhibitors.
Salt concentration affects enzymes and their ability to work correctly. ... The best place for enzymes to catalyze reactions is in intermediate salt concentrations such as that of human blood or cytoplasm.
Ph, or the logarithmic scale that measure the acidity or H+ concentration in a solution has a major affect on enzymes. ... Acids have this affect on enzymes. ... Many enzymes perform the best in the neutral pH range, 7, and are denatured at either extreme of pH. Some enzymes, such as pepsin, act in the human stomach where the pH is very low. ... Some other enzymes can work at extreme pH but usually high and low pH denatures enzymes.
Another factor in the efficiency of enzymes is temperature. ... Since enzymes are catalysts for chemical reactions, enzyme reactions also tend to go faster with increasing temperature. ... When temperature optimum is reached, the value of kinetic energy of the enzyme and water molecules is so great that the conformation of the enzymes molecules is disrupted. ... The normal temperature at which enzymes become denatured is about 40-50c, though some can still be active at 70-80c, while a few can withstand boiling.
The final factor which affects enzymes is activations and inhibitors. ... Many well ˇVknown poisons such as potassium cyanide and curare are enzyme inhibitors that interfere with the active site of critical enzymes.
Approximate Word count = 1576
Approximate Pages = 6.3
(250 words per page double spaced)
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