Single science Coursework
Investigating the effects catalyse has on hydrogen peroxide solution
Aim: I am going to investigate the effects which catalyse has on a hydrogen peroxide solution
Preliminary work
We would use potato to do the experiment because we had done a previous experiment when we put a piece of potato and liver into a hydrogen peroxide solution and the rate of reaction for the liver was too fast to measure and time. But the potato had a slower reaction which will be easier to time and we can measure the size of the froth using a ruler.
Theory
Enzymes are special shaped protein molecules which act as catalyst and work in living organisms. Enzymes help speed up the rate of reactions. Each enzyme has a unique 3D shape which means that they work with certain types of substrates. This is also known as ‘lock and key’ because the shape of the substrate fits into the shape of the enzyme, just the way a lock and key do. Enzymes work by attaching itself to the substrate molecule. The substrate molecule brakes down where the active site is. The substrate molecule splits and the enzyme is left unaffected. The factors that affect enzymes are: temperature, pH and surface area. Enzymes are used in everyday life because all living things produce enzymes. Saliva in a human produces a lot of enzymes for digestion. The optimum temperature for these enzymes to work in is 37.5 °C. Enzymes also perform best at a pH which is around neutral. When an enzyme reaches 40°C it becomes denatured. Enzymes are also used in industry e.g. bakery, cheese making, starch processing and production of fruit juices and other drinks
