How quickly does amylase break down starch when we change the temperature.

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GCSE coursework science-analysing strand

Jack Darby 10F1 Miss Riaz

Control in animals and plants

How quickly does amylase break down starch when we change the temperature.

Conclusion

My results show that as the temperature of the amylase and starch solution increases the rate of reaction of increases up to 40 degrees then as the temperature rises above that the rate of reaction decreases. This is what I stated in my prediction. The curve on the graph did rise and then fall as the reactant denatured, this is also what I stated in my prediction.

Explain what you found using scientific ideas

The higher the temperature of the starch and amylase solution up to and including 40 degrees Celsius because 40 degrees is near to body temperature and is the optimum temperature for amylase to work. As the solution of starch and amylase become hotter than 40 degrees Celsius the rate of reaction slows down because the reactant ( starch) begins to denature and cannot fit snugly into the ' active site' and therefore cannot be broken down efficiently. Near to 37 degrees Celsius the reactant does fit snugly into the active site and the starch can therefore be broken down quickly and effectively. As a result of the reactant fitting snugly into the active site more of the surface area of the starch comes into contact with the amylase and is broken down quicker. Enzymes are biological catalysts and all catalysts need an optimum temperature in order to break down the reactant as quickly and as effectively as possible. Enzymes are protein molecules. Protein molecules are denatured by high temperatures and extreme pH. When denaturing occurs the shape of the active site is changed irreversibly and this means that the 'lock and key' mechanism no longer works.
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Starch is a glucose polymer linked together with other substances and in order for starch to be broken down the bonds between the starch molecule and the other substances it is bonded to need to be broken. So when the temperature of the amylase and starch solution reaches 60 degrees Celsius the bonds that the starch molecule has are not broken and this means the starch is not broken down. At the optimum temperature for amylase the bonds of the starch molecules are broken quickly and therefore there is a fast reaction rate.

Graph analysis

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