An experiment to investigate the effect of substrate concentration on the rate of activity of the enzyme Catalase.

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An experiment to investigate the effect of substrate concentration on the rate of activity of the enzyme Catalase

PLANNING

Aim: This is an experiment to examine how the concentration of the substance Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) affects the rate of reaction of the enzyme Catalase. The main purpose of this reaction is to find out how; by varying the concentration of substrate (H2O2) the rate of enzymatic activity of the enzyme catalase (which is present in liver) is affected. The rate of this enzyme-controlled reaction can be measured by the amount of oxygen (O2) given off compared to the amount of time it takes to fill the entire volume of the gas syringe.

Scientific Knowledge

We know that an enzyme is a protein which serves as catalyst - a chemical agent that changes the rate of reaction without itself being consumed by the reaction. Each different enzyme acts upon a chemical substance called a substrate, which fits into the active site of the enzyme like a lock would into a key (lock and key mechanism), during the reaction products are formed. A Catalase enzyme serves to protect the cell (e.g. liver or potato cells)