The Effect of Temperature on the Enzyme Catalase
The Effect of Temperature on the Enzyme Catalase Stephen Francis
Biology 183
Abstract
This experiment was performed to determine the resultant effect of temperature change on the reaction between the enzyme catalase and hydrogen peroxide. This experiment was performed by measuring and comparing the amount of oxygen bubbles produced and the absorbance of the catalase and hydrogen peroxide solution over time at room temperature, 2°C, 50°C, and 60°C. The overall result of this experiment proved that this reaction works best at room temperature, slows down when the temperature is lowered, and does not take place when the temperature gets too high due to the enzyme denaturing at these higher temperatures. The hypothesis that was expected for this experiment was supported by the actual experiment for the most part, but due to an error in the absorbance measurement, the results were somewhat skewed leaving part of the hypothesis unproved for this part of the experiment. Overall it was concluded that by varying the temperature too much, the reaction speed was heavily affected even to the point where it didn’t happen at all when the enzyme was heated too much.
Introduction
This experiment tested the effects of temperature on the reaction between catalase and hydrogen peroxide. Enzymes are catalysts that increase the rate of chemical reactions by reducing the activation energy needed for the reaction to take place (Hayden McNeill 2013). Catalase is an enzyme that is found in animal, plant, fungi, and bacteria cells, and plays a role in breaking down hydrogen peroxide into water and oxygen (Hayden McNeill 2013). Hydrogen peroxide can be toxic to cells at high concentration, so this is an important reaction for cells to undergo. To measure the effect of temperature change, oxygen bubble levels and absorbance levels were measured over time as the reaction took place (or didn’t take place in some circumstances). In order to measure the results at both ends of the
Biology 183
Abstract
This experiment was performed to determine the resultant effect of temperature change on the reaction between the enzyme catalase and hydrogen peroxide. This experiment was performed by measuring and comparing the amount of oxygen bubbles produced and the absorbance of the catalase and hydrogen peroxide solution over time at room temperature, 2°C, 50°C, and 60°C. The overall result of this experiment proved that this reaction works best at room temperature, slows down when the temperature is lowered, and does not take place when the temperature gets too high due to the enzyme denaturing at these higher temperatures. The hypothesis that was expected for this experiment was supported by the actual experiment for the most part, but due to an error in the absorbance measurement, the results were somewhat skewed leaving part of the hypothesis unproved for this part of the experiment. Overall it was concluded that by varying the temperature too much, the reaction speed was heavily affected even to the point where it didn’t happen at all when the enzyme was heated too much.
Introduction
This experiment tested the effects of temperature on the reaction between catalase and hydrogen peroxide. Enzymes are catalysts that increase the rate of chemical reactions by reducing the activation energy needed for the reaction to take place (Hayden McNeill 2013). Catalase is an enzyme that is found in animal, plant, fungi, and bacteria cells, and plays a role in breaking down hydrogen peroxide into water and oxygen (Hayden McNeill 2013). Hydrogen peroxide can be toxic to cells at high concentration, so this is an important reaction for cells to undergo. To measure the effect of temperature change, oxygen bubble levels and absorbance levels were measured over time as the reaction took place (or didn’t take place in some circumstances). In order to measure the results at both ends of the
References: Eyster, H.C. Effect of Temperature on Catalase Activity. Ohio Journal of Science [Internet]. 1950 [cited 2013,February 17]. 50:273-277 Hayden-McNeill. 2013. Biology 183 Laboratory Manual: Introduction to Biology II. Hayden- McNeill Publishing. 33:54