In this experiment my aim is to find out at which temperature amylase digests starch the quickest.

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Amylase investigation

Aim:

In this experiment my aim is to find out at which temperature amylase digests starch the quickest.

Prediction:

Enzymes are proteins which are made by living cells. Digestive enzymes break down larger molecules into smaller molecules. Enzymes are biological catalysts. This means that they speed up the rate of a reaction without being used up themselves. Starch, protein and fats are quite large molecules and so they cannot pass through cell membranes into the blood. Sugars, amino acids and fatty acids/glycerol are much smaller in size and so are able to pass through the cell membranes. Digestive enzymes work to break down these larger molecules into smaller ones. Enzymes are sensitive to both change in pH and temperature. Thousands of different types of enzymes are found in each cell. Enzymes are quite specific in their action. Each enzyme has an active site. Active sites are different shapes in which only one substrate can fit into. This active site breaks down the substrate into the products. After the enzyme has broken down the substrate it can still work on another part of that substrate and it continues to break the