An Experiment To Investigate The Effect Of Hydrogen Peroxide (Substance) Upon Yeast (Catalase)

This essay hasn't yet been marked by one of our teachers

You can view 30 essays on Molecules & Cells that have been Marked by Teachers

The first 200 words of this essay...

Matthew Chamberlain

Brownhillls Community School

An ExperimenTo Investigate The

EffectOf Hydrogen Peroxide (Substance)

Upon Yeast (Catalase)

Background :

Catalase is a protein molecule, thats reactions it catalyses are crucial to life. Catalyses converts Hydrogen Peroxide to water and oxygen. Catalase also uses Hydrogen Peroxide to oxidise toxins including Phenols, Formic Acid, Formaldehyde and Alcohols.

Catalase is an enzyme found in food such as potato, liver and yeast!. It is used for removing Hydrogen Peroxide from cells. Hydrogen Peroxide is the poisonous by -product of metabolism.

The enzyme catalase speeds up the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide (2H O ). Hydrogen peroxide breaks down into water and oxygen. Equation :

Catalse

Hydrogen Peroxide Water + Oxygen

Catalse

2H O 2H O + O

It is able to speed up the decomposition of Hydrogen Peroxide because the shape of it matches the shape of the Hydrogen Peroxide. This type of is called an anabolic reaction as the Hydrogen Peroxide molecule is broken up into smaller peices.

Hydrogen peroxide (2H O ) is formed of many cells and is very