UNIT 2: Biochemistry

Biology I

DAYSHEET 35: Enzyme Laboratory & Formative Assessment

Name: _______________________________

Date: _______________

Bellringer: Use your test-taking strategies (underline, highlight and/or circle important
words or phrases) as you read and answer the following questions.

Purpose: To learn about the enzyme catalase

Task: Preview the questions on the left side. Use your reading strategies (underlining,
highlighting, etc.) while you read. Answer the questions after reading each section.
Outcome: Answer the pre-lab questions in complete sentences!
1. Why do we need enzymes?

Enzymes are proteins in living things that

speed up chemical reactions. Most of the things you
do on a daily basis moving, eating, eliminating
waste involve chemical reactions. Left alone, these
reactions would happen really slow or not at all and
you would die. But enzymes speed up these reactions
so that our bodies can function. Because enzymes
speed up reactions we call them catalysts.

2. Why is the relationship between

an enzyme and its substrate
compared to a lock-and-key?

The molecule s that enzymes work with are

called substrates. A substrate attaches to the enzyme
at a place on the enzyme called the active site. An
enzymes active site fits perfectly with its substrate
like a lock and key.

3. Why is it important for our

enzymes that we keep our bodys
temperature and pH stable?

An enzyme has to fit together perfectly with

its substrate. So if an enzyme loses its shape it wont
work anymore. Some things that can make an
enzyme lose its shape are changes in temperature or
pH. When an enzyme loses its shape we say that it
has denatured.

Denatured enzyme

4. What does the enzyme catalase do?

In this lab we are going to look at one specific

enzyme catalase. Catalase is an enzyme found in
almost all living things. It breaks down hydrogen
peroxide (H2O2), which is a harmful product of
certain metabolic reactions, into water and oxygen
gas:
2H2O2 2H2O + O2 (gas)
5. How can we tell if catalase is
active (working)?

We can see this reaction happen by observing

the oxygen gas bubbles. If lots of oxygen gas bubbles
are produced, it means the reaction is happening
quickly, and the catalase enzyme is very active. If not
a lot or no bubbles are produced, it means the
reaction is happening slowly or not at all and catalase
is not active.

Todays Objectives: I CAN make quantitative and qualitative observations about enzyme activity.
Homework 35 is due at the beginning of next class.

Activity 1: Potato Bubbles-Introduction to Enzyme Laboratory

Introduction:

Potatoes contain a special enzyme called Catalase. Catalase is an enzyme that breaks down
hydrogen peroxide, which is a harmful byproduct of certain metabolic reactions. Hydrogen
peroxide will naturally (on its own) breakdown into water and oxygen gas:

2H2O2 2H2O + O

This reaction occurs very slowly and does not produce visible bubbles under normal room
conditions. Catalase increases the chemical breakdown of hydrogen peroxide into water and
oxygen gas, causing the forming of oxygen bubbles. Boiled catalase no longer has the ability to
catalyze the chemical breakdown of hydrogen peroxide into water and oxygen bubbles,
therefore no forming will be apparent.

Purpose:

Your job is to determine the impact of temperature, and pH on the rate of a chemical reaction
being catalyzed by catalase (an enzyme found in potatoes).

Hypothesis:

Below, write your hypothesis for both temperature and pH (Remember: A hypothesis is an if IV
then DV statement)

1.

2.

If I boil my potato then _________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

If I soak my potato in vinegar then ____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Observations:

A. Raw potato placed in water:

Qualitative Data

Quantitative Data

B. Cooked potato in water:

Qualitative Data

Quantitative Data

C. Raw potato placed in hydrogen peroxide:

Qualitative Data

Quantitative Data

D. Cooked potato placed in hydrogen peroxide:

Qualitative Data

Quantitative Data

E. Raw potato soaked in vinegar and then placed in hydrogen peroxide:

Qualitative Data

Quantitative Data

Analysis: You must answer each question using complete sentences to receive full credit for
your response.

1. Restate your hypothesis:


a. Temperature: ____________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________

b. pH: ________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

2. What are the independent variables in this experiment? _________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________


3. What is the dependent variable in this experiment? _______________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

4. What is the function of a catalase enzyme? ________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________


5. What did an increase in temperature do to the catalase inside the potato? _____________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

6. What did a decrease in pH do to the catalase inside the potato? __________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

7. Should you accept or reject your hypothesis? Why?

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Activity 2: StudyStack Silent Study

Activity 3: QuizStar Formative Enzyme Assessment

HW#35: Effect of pH on Enzymes Activity

Biology I

Name ___________________________________

Date ________________