To find the optimum temperature that the enzyme catalyse works at.

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Alex Walker

Biology SC1 investigation

Intro

Aim: To find the optimum temperature that the enzyme catalyse works at.

Introduction: the livers’ main purpose is to break down things that the body needs. The cells in the liver help the blood to join with food substances and excrete excess waste materials and toxins, as well as such substances as estrogens, steroids and various other hormones. The cells used to break down these substances are known as enzymes. The main used enzyme is called catalase. The enzyme catalase can only work at a specific temperature and needs several other things to achieve maximum efficiency and potential. Using a piece of sheep’s liver, which has similar qualities to human liver, as well as containing the enzyme catalase, we can find the temperature that optimises catalase.

Apparatus: 


Diagram


Method / prediction

Plan: to find the optimum temperature for the enzyme catalase to work at the pieces of liver containing the enzyme will have to be heated to a variety of different temperatures. I will then have to have a reaction that can be controlled to measure the efficiency and speed of the reaction. Catalase reacts violently with hydrogen peroxide, therefore to get a reaction I shall put the liver containing catalase into some hydrogen peroxide. The reaction that takes place creates gas and another liquid. Once I have timed the reaction at the vast variety of temperatures I can then establish at which temperature the enzyme catalase works best at. #

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The first part of the experiment involves cutting the pieces of liver to the same sizes so that there would be equal amounts of catalase in each. Each piece will be about 1.1 grams. That is the chosen weight that I have chosen since it is a reasonable mass. Then I will create 2 water baths, one for hot temperatures, and one for cold. The cold one will consist on water with different amounts of ice added to get the right temperature. The second one, (the hot one) will be a beaker of water on top of a tripod ...

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