Virtual Lab: Enzyme Controlled Reactions

Worksheet
Name ___________________________________________________ Period _______
Log on to http://www.mhhe.com/biosci/genbio/virtual_labs/BL_11/BL_11.html
Read the purpose and the procedure: Conduct the experiment and fill in the chart.
Table 1: Record your data on the number of product molecules formed per minute
obtained from the virtual lab.
# Product Molecules/minute at:
Amount of
Substrate
(Lactose)
0.5 g

pH 3

pH 5

pH 7

pH 9

pH 11

1.0 g
2.0 g
4.0 g
8.0 g
I. Graph your results on logger pro
1. Double click on x axis title: Amount of substrate units: grams
2. Double click on y axis title: # product molecules per min
3. Enter all information labeling data sets by the pH
II. When all information is entered
1. Double click in center of graph
a. Title your graph (graph titles can be written as (title of Y vs Title of X)
b. Click bar graph
c. Click on legend so a key shows up on the graph
d. Change the top to Axis options
e. Open each data set and click on y (# product molecules per min) for
each data set.
f. Click ok
Expand graph by clicking on the A at the top of the page
Print graph and attach to back of lab. Be sure to name stamp it, with YOUR NAME.

Click on information at the bottom of the page and fill in the blanks.
How do substrate concentration and pH affect the rate of an enzyme-controlled reaction?
To sustain the processes of________, a typical cell carries out __________________of
biochemical reactions each _____________. Many of these reactions require the help of
____________. Enzymes are __________________ that speed up the rate of chemical
reactions. Many important processes in the body involve the work of enzymes, including
the __________________ of nutrients such as carbohydrates, _______________ and fats.
Enzymes are _______________ catalysts. A catalyst is a chemical that controls the
____________ of a reaction, but is itself not _____________ ________ in the process.
Reactions that are accelerated due to the presence of enzymes are known as enzymecatalyzed reactions.
Enzymes are proteins that accelerate chemical reactions but do not change themselves in
the reaction. Enzymes enable molecules to undergo chemical changes, forming new
substances called ___________________. ___________________ are molecules that are
acted upon by enzymes. For instance, ___________________, an enzyme found in
saliva, helps break down complex starch molecules (______________) into smaller sugar
molecules (_______________). In other biochemical reactions, substrates require
assistance of specific enzymes to form new products.
Each substrate fits into an area of the enzyme called the _______________ _______.
This fitting together is often compared to a _________-______-_________ mechanism.
However, researchers believe that the fit between enzyme and substrate need ________
be exact. Enzymes are viewed as __________ keys that can shape and conform to the
shape of the substrate.
1. What substrate amount was required to achieve the maximum reaction rate?
2. At what pH level did the maximum reaction rate occur? _______________
3. In the graph you created in the lab simulation with your data what is the optimal pH
for lactase enzyme activity? _________________
4. Consider only the experiment you conducted with 0.5 g. of lactose.
a. What is the independent variable?
b. What is the dependent variable?
5. List two changes you could make in the experimental conditions or variables in this
experiment.
1.
2.