The aim of this experiment is to find out how the temperature effects the action of lipase.

Apparatus

• Boiling tube
• Milk
• Sodium carbonate
• Lipase (5% conc.)
• Phenothalin
• Glass beaker
• Tripod
• Gauze
• Bunsen burner
• Heat proof mat
• Thermometer
• Stop watch

Prediction

        I think that the 30°c experiment will have the fasted reaction rate because it is the closest to body temperature where the enzymes naturally work. At 100°c I predict that there will be no reaction because the enzymes will be de-natured because it is so hot. And at 0°c I predict there will also be no reaction as it will be too cold for the enzymes to work.

Variables

• Amount of milk – 5 cm³
• Amount of sodium Carbonate – 7 cm³
• Amount of lipase – 1 cm³
• Heat – 0°c, 13°c, 30°c, 50°c, 100°c

Results

Analysis

        The results and the graph clearly show that at 0°c and at 100°c a reaction did no take place. At 100°c the lipase was denatured but at 0°c it was just too cold for it to react quickly enough for it too be seen. The results also show that at 50°c the reaction is the quickest and so therefore proved me wrong, as I believed that 30°c would be the temperature that the lipase reacted quickest at, but it wasn’t.

        The experiment went well and some good results came from it. It would be interesting to try more different temperatures and so then a better more accurate graph would be achieved, it would also be interesting to find out the point at which the lipase is actually denatured (i.e. the highest temperature that the lipase can work at). And if I were to do further work on these experiments I would most definitely choose to go down that line of experiments. It would create some interesting results.