Reaction Rate Lab
The Effect of pH on Enzymatic Reaction Rate
Abstract
Enzymes are affected by changes in pH. The most favorable pH value— the point where the enzyme is most active—is known as the optimum pH. This experiment was conducted to determine the effect of pH reaction rate on an enzyme, catalase, from yeast. The experimental results indicate that the catalase worked best at a neutral pH level of seven (7).
Introduction
An enzyme is a protein molecule that serves as a catalyst. “The basic function of an enzyme is to increase the rate of a reaction; most cellular reactions occur about a million times faster than they would in the absence of an enzyme” (Ophart, 2003). The enzyme is not changed by the reaction because the enzyme temporarily binds …show more content…
The acidic solution with a pH of two (2) slowed down the reaction rate significantly as compared to the pH of seven (7). We didn’t observe a significant difference between the basic solution and the neutral solution although the pH of ten (10) did slow down the reaction rate. In both trials, the reaction rate of the yeast cells mixed with a solution with a pH of two (2) was consistently slower than the basic and neutral solutions. As hypothesized, the results clearly show that enzymatic reaction was slowed down in both acidic and basic environments. The observed data from the experiment is shown on table 1 and the “effect of pH on reaction time” …show more content…
Our body is constantly metabolizing which creates an extreme number of hydrogen peroxide; therefore, if the cell environment is either too acidic or too basic, the action of catalase can be inhibited which can cause the hydrogen peroxide to destroy our cells. In addition to catalase, there are also many enzymes that are the most efficient when surrounded by a pH of 7. However, there are some enzymes such as pepsin, who work under acidic environments (Biochemistry Lab Manual, 2003). The environment that surrounds our enzymes is extremely important when it comes to the processes of our body because the environment can inhibit many reactions that are necessary for proper homeostasis.
References
Biochemistry Lab Manual. 2003. pH Effects on Enzyme Activity. Retrieved February 11, 2014 from http://www.chem.fsu.edu/chemlab/bch4053l/enzymes/activity/index.html
Enzymes Essential. (N.D). Enzymes Basics. Retrieved February 3, 2014 from http://www.enzymeessentials.com/HTML/print_tour.html
Ophart, C.E. 2003. Enzyme Characteristics. Retrieved February 3, 2014 from http://www.elmhurst.edu/~chm/vchembook/570enzymes.html
Preszler, R.W., Haas, L.L., Marion, A.L., Urquidi, L.J. 2012. Cellular and Organismal Biology: Student Investigations, 10th edition, Hayden-McNeil Publishing, Plymouth MI
Princeton. (N.D). Catalase. Retrieved
Abstract
Enzymes are affected by changes in pH. The most favorable pH value— the point where the enzyme is most active—is known as the optimum pH. This experiment was conducted to determine the effect of pH reaction rate on an enzyme, catalase, from yeast. The experimental results indicate that the catalase worked best at a neutral pH level of seven (7).
Introduction
An enzyme is a protein molecule that serves as a catalyst. “The basic function of an enzyme is to increase the rate of a reaction; most cellular reactions occur about a million times faster than they would in the absence of an enzyme” (Ophart, 2003). The enzyme is not changed by the reaction because the enzyme temporarily binds …show more content…
The acidic solution with a pH of two (2) slowed down the reaction rate significantly as compared to the pH of seven (7). We didn’t observe a significant difference between the basic solution and the neutral solution although the pH of ten (10) did slow down the reaction rate. In both trials, the reaction rate of the yeast cells mixed with a solution with a pH of two (2) was consistently slower than the basic and neutral solutions. As hypothesized, the results clearly show that enzymatic reaction was slowed down in both acidic and basic environments. The observed data from the experiment is shown on table 1 and the “effect of pH on reaction time” …show more content…
Our body is constantly metabolizing which creates an extreme number of hydrogen peroxide; therefore, if the cell environment is either too acidic or too basic, the action of catalase can be inhibited which can cause the hydrogen peroxide to destroy our cells. In addition to catalase, there are also many enzymes that are the most efficient when surrounded by a pH of 7. However, there are some enzymes such as pepsin, who work under acidic environments (Biochemistry Lab Manual, 2003). The environment that surrounds our enzymes is extremely important when it comes to the processes of our body because the environment can inhibit many reactions that are necessary for proper homeostasis.
References
Biochemistry Lab Manual. 2003. pH Effects on Enzyme Activity. Retrieved February 11, 2014 from http://www.chem.fsu.edu/chemlab/bch4053l/enzymes/activity/index.html
Enzymes Essential. (N.D). Enzymes Basics. Retrieved February 3, 2014 from http://www.enzymeessentials.com/HTML/print_tour.html
Ophart, C.E. 2003. Enzyme Characteristics. Retrieved February 3, 2014 from http://www.elmhurst.edu/~chm/vchembook/570enzymes.html
Preszler, R.W., Haas, L.L., Marion, A.L., Urquidi, L.J. 2012. Cellular and Organismal Biology: Student Investigations, 10th edition, Hayden-McNeil Publishing, Plymouth MI
Princeton. (N.D). Catalase. Retrieved