To investigate the effect of Diastase on Starch

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To investigate the effect of Diastase on Starch

Aim

The aim of this experiment was to investigate the breakdown of starch by diastase. There where a lot of different variables that could be changed.

The possible variables that could be changed were:

  1. Temperature 

The temperature of the water that the reaction was carried out in could be changed.

  1. Concentration of Starch 

The concentration of the starch that will be used can be changed.

  1. Concentration of Diastase

The concentration of the diastase that will be used can be changed.

  1. pH of Solutions

The pH of both the solutions could be altered.

  1. Volume of Starch

The amount of starch that is used could be changed.

6.        Volume of Diastase

The amount of diastase that is used could be changed.

7.        Amount of Iodine used

The amount of iodine that is used could be changed.

8.        Agitation

The amount of agitation the test-tube is subjected to after the solutions are mixed.

The variable that I am going to change is temperature. This is because it is one of the easiest to control and is almost guaranteed to get accurate results.


Research in to Enzymes

Enzymes are biological catalysts made up from protein that control vital biological processes. As we know catalysts are substances that speed up a rate of a reaction without itself being used up. An enzyme has an active site, which has a unique shape into which only a substrate of the exact same unique shape can fit. When this substrate fits into the active site it forms an enzyme-substrate complex.

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Enzymes can be denatured at certain conditions. These conditions are high temperatures and extreme levels of pH. The bonds that hold enzymes together are quite weak and so are easily broken by the above conditions. When these bonds are broken the enzyme, along with the active site are deformed, thus deactivating the enzyme. This is known as a denatured enzyme.

The rate of reaction is directly proportional to the enzyme concentration when the substrate is in excess. This is due to the fact that when the enzyme concentration is raised it makes more active sites available to react ...

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*** This report contained some sound experimental data and there was some thought in the planning but it failed to analyze the data thoroughly or to carry out an evaluation. Planning: The planned procedure would collect some valid evidence and the range of the independent variable and the number of repeats is acceptable. To improve the candidate should include a variables table to show how they are to be controlled, a thorough risk assessment and background references to inform the plan. Obtaining Evidence: The candidate has recorded five values of the independent variable but the range could be extended. The readings are repeated and recorded in clearly laid out tables. The headings of the tables could be more detailed. Analysis and Evaluation: The candidate has stated a valid conclusion and related this to the prediction. No evaluation of the experimental method has been carried out. To improve the candidate should try to explain the results using relevant background theory and try to account for the anomalous results. They should try to explain why the results do not agree with the prediction and propose further work to explain this.