Investigate How The Concentration Of Amylase Affects The Rate Of Reaction Between Starch And Amylase.

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Aim: To Investigate How The Concentration Of Amylase Affects The Rate Of Reaction Between Starch And Amylase.

Prediction

I predict that the higher the concentration of the Amylase the quicker the breakdown of Starch. This is because the more amylase particles there are to collide with starch particles the quicker the reaction will happen as there are more amylase particles to collide with starch particles.  

An enzyme is a biological catalyst and makes a reaction happen at a much faster rate. Enzymes speed up chemical reactions in our cells.

Almost every reaction in our body is catalysed by an enzyme. In fact all our body cells contain dozens of enzymes to catalyse the reaction they need. Different cells contain different enzymes depending on the job they do.

The substance on which an enzyme works is called its substrate. Enzymes are usually named by adding the ending –ASE to the name of their substrate. So, Carbohydrases are enzymes which catalyse the breakdown of carbohydrates.

Amylase is a carbohydrase enzyme in saliva. Amylase begins the breakdown of starch in food. The starch molecules (composed of glucose molecules joined together) are broken down by amylase to maltose. Maltose molecules are composed of two glucose molecules.

Proteases are enzymes which catalyse the breakdown of proteins. Pepsin, a protease in gastric (stomach) juices begins the breakdown of proteins. Protein molecules are composed of similar small molecules, called amino acids. These amino acids are joined together in a long chain. Proteins are broken down by pepsin to shorter chains of amino acids called peptides.

Lipases are enzymes in the small intestine or pancreas which catalyse the breakdown of fats (lipids) into fatty acids and glycerol.

Enzymes work on substances called substrate. The reaction takes place on part of the enzyme surface called active site.

This is called the lock and key theory. Where the enzyme and substrate should fit in like a lock and key.

  Active site        

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   Enzyme        Substrate

Substrate in Active Site

        Product released

Enzyme

Research also shows:

  • Enzymes are proteins
  • Each enzyme contains one particular reaction
  • They can be used over and over again.
  • They are affected by temperature and PH.
  • There are two main types of enzymes.
  • One being intra-cellular enzyme that controls reactions taking place inside the cell.
  • The other being extra-cellular enzymes that control reactions taking place outside of the cell.

Preliminary Experiment

The purpose of preliminary work ...

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