The Effect of Different Amounts of Sodium Chloride on the Displacement of Oxygen

1249 Words3 Pages

DESCRIPTIVE TITLE
The Effect of Different Amounts of Sodium Chloride on the displacement of oxygen.

INTRODUCTION

The dependability of the rate of an enzyme-mediated reaction is based on two factors: the substrate concentration and the concentration and action of the enzyme that catalyzes the reaction (Vander, et. al., 2001). Enzymes are catalysts that produce chemical reactions in cells. Enzymes which are large proteins perform a reaction which acts upon a substance known as a substrate. When combined, the substrate bonds to the active site on the enzyme creating an enzyme-substrate complex. It is from this complex that specific products are created.
Sodium Chloride is a compound known commonly as table salt. This compound is used for many things, including food flavoring, a means of preservation and to aid or inhibit a chemical reaction. Saline concentrations have been shown to affect certain enzymes by a process known as denaturing. This process can change the shape of the enzymes active site, possibly minimizing the ability of the substrate to bond to that specific enzyme (Starr and Taggart, 2001).
When specific enzymes are combined with hydrogen peroxide as a substrate, the resulting products are water and oxygen (Mader, Sylvia, 1998). By introducing sodium chloride, the predicted outcome would be the decreased production of oxygen as a product. By denaturing the enzyme, the reaction rate will decrease because sodium chloride will prevent the hydrogen peroxide from binding to the active site on a given number of the enzymes. This decrease in binding will inhibit the production of water as well as oxygen.
MATERIALS AND METHOD
• 2 POTATOS / KNIFE / ICE BATH WITH ICE
• TABLE SALT (NaCl) 6-10 grams
• 1% HYDROGEN PEROXIDE / Distilled Water (200ml each)
• 1-1000ml BEAKER / 8-SMALL BEAKERS (40ml)
• 1-STOPPER / 1- RUBBER HOSE / 1-GAS BOTTLE
• 1-INVERTED GRADUATED CYLINDER / 1-PLASTIC TUBE
• 1-WEIGHT SCALE / 1-WATER PAN / 1-BLENDER
We started by cutting the potato in pieces and weighing them until they weighed at 200 grams. While the potatoes were being done, we filled the blender with 2 handfuls of ice and 200 ml. of cold distilled water. Then we mixed the potato pieces, ice and 200 ml. of cold distilled water for about 15-20 seconds at high speed. I then grabbed the 1000 ml. beaker so I could pour the solution from the blender and place it in the ice bath. Next we took the 4-40 ml. beakers and labeled them A-D. The other 4-40 ml beakers were marked as 1-4.

Open Document