Lab: Effects of pH on Enzyme Activity

Introduction: Enzymes are proteins that are necessary for many processes, including digestion and fighting disease.
Enzymes catalyze reactions, which means they speed up chemical reactions in the body. Conditions such as temperature
and pH must be tightly controlled so that enzymes can function properly. In this lab, you will study an enzyme called
catalase that is found in the blood and in most living cells, especially liver cells. Catalase speeds up the decomposition of
a toxic waste product in the body called hydrogen peroxide (H
2
O
2
). It breaks hydrogen peroxide down into water (H
2
O)
and oxygen (O
2
).

2H
2
O
2

catalase
2H
2
O + O
2

Problem: What are the effects of pH on enzyme activity?

Hypothesis: Enzymes in neutral (pH 7) solutions will have more activity than enzymes in solutions with pH 1
or pH 11.

Experiment:
Procedure:
1. Using a separate pipette for each pH solution:
Add one milliliter of pH 1 solution to the pH 1 test tube
Add one milliliter of pH 7 solution to the pH 7 test tube
Add one milliliter of pH 11 solution to the pH 11 test tube
2. Using the calibrated pipette labeled catalase, add 1 drop of catalase enzyme to each of the test tubes (being
sure not to drip along the sides of the test tube). Gently swirl the test tubes to mix and allow to sit for two
minutes. (While you are waiting, fill out the front of your lab write-up and copy the table below into your results
section.)

pH of
solution
Enzyme Activity
(height of foam in mm)





3. After three minutes have passed, use the calibrated pipette labeled H
2
O
2
to add one mL of the hydrogen
peroxide solution (H
2
O
2
) to each of the test tubes. Foam will form on the tops of the solutions indicating a
reaction between catalase and hydrogen peroxide.

4. Using the ruler, measure the amount of foam that formed in each test tube in millimeters (not centimeters!!).
Measure the foam from the surface of the liquid solution to the surface of the foam. The amount of foam
formed indicates the amount of enzyme activity. Record these measurements in your data table.

5. Create a bar graph using your data. Be sure to include a title, axis labels, bar labels, and the correct intervals.

6. Complete the following questions in complete sentences in your conclusions section.

Post-Lab Questions: Answer in complete sentences.
1. What type of organic compound is an enzyme?
2. What does the word catalyze mean?
3. What are two factors that can affect the rate at which enzymes catalyze reactions in the body?
4. What is the specific function of the enzyme catalyst catalase?