Potato Enzyme Lab

Potato Enzyme Lab Enzymes are protein catalysts that speed up chemical reaction in living organisms. The purpose of this lab was to; observe the breakdown of hydrogen peroxide toxin by potato’s enzyme catalase, determine factors that influence how quickly the reaction takes place, and determine factors that influence how well enzymes function. The first test, we were supposed to see what would happen when we add sand in hydrogen peroxide. We filled a test tube with 5mL hydrogen peroxide and we added a pinch of sand into the test tube. For the first test tube we observed that the hydrogen peroxide did not react with the sand because there is no catalase in the sand. Our time for the reaction was zero seconds.
The second test, we were supposed to see what would happen when we add ground potato and a pinch of sand into hydrogen peroxide. First we filled the second test tube with hydrogen peroxide, then we took 1 gram of potato and grinded it; then we added the smashed potato and a pinch of sand to the test tube. For the second test tube we observed that hydrogen peroxide broke down in the presence of a catalase. The potato rose to the top leaving the sand below; grinding the potato caused the reaction to occur faster. This reaction took approximately 2 minutes. The third test, we were supposed to see what would happen when we add diced potato into hydrogen peroxide. First we filled the third test tube with hydrogen peroxide. Then we took 1 gram of diced potato and added it to the hydrogen peroxide. For the third test tube we observed that after the deiced potato was added a lot of bubbles started to form. Although unlike the second test tube, this reaction took much longer. The bubbles slowly collected and there was clear fizz on the top of hydrogen peroxide. This reaction took about 29 minutes and 35 seconds. All three tests had different results. In the first test there was no reaction. In the second test the potato rose to the top and grinding the potato