Catalase Temperature Lab

I. Temperatures Impact On Catalase

II. Generally, chemical reactions speed up as temperature’s raised. This happens because as the temperature gets higher, more of the reacting molecules have enough kinetic energy to undergo the reactions. It is the same with enzyme reactions; however, if the temperature of an enzyme-catalyzed reaction is raised further then its optimum; the enzyme becomes denatured. Catalase is an enzyme that catalyzes the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide to water and oxygen. The optimum temperature for catalase is 37 degrees. The purpose of the lab is to measure and explain the affects of enzyme and substrate concentration on reaction rates of an enzyme catalyzed reaction (in a controlled experiment). Basically to learn about how temperature impacts enzyme activity (catalase). My hypothesis is as the temperature increases the enzyme activity of catalase will increase up to a certain point where the enzyme will start to denature and the activity will

- Grab a test tube and put the disk into it after it is covered in catalase

- Pour/measure 20mm of hydrogen peroxide in another test tube.

- For the room temperature reaction just pour the hydrogen peroxide from one test tube into the test tube with the catalase covered disk.

- Use a stop watch and time how long it takes for the catalase disk to rise and record the time.

- Repeat test 1-3 for the other 3 temperature reactions, but before you move on, you have to place both test tubes in a graduated cylinder and place it in either an incubator, water bath, or hot plate to adjust the temperature for 3 consecutive minutes.

- After the test tubes are exposed to the temperature for 3 minutes, pour the hydrogen peroxide (in one test tube) into the other test tube that has the disk covered in catalase.

- Time how long it takes for the reaction to take place by timing how long it takes for the disk to