A lab report on the investigation of temperature on catalase activity.

Essay by boo-zoo-kaJunior High, 9th gradeA+, October 2003

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INVESTIGATION INTO THE EFFECT OF TEMPERATURE ON CATALASE ACTIVITY

AIM

The aim of this experiment is to find out the effect of temperature on catalase or hydrogen peroxide. This will enable us to tell at what temperature hydrogen peroxide is most efficient. This (degradation) reaction will help us determine some of the catalase's different attributes.

HYPOTHESIS

In this experiment it would be safe to hypothesise that no activity would take place at 1 to 20 degrees. It would be probable that a little activity would take place around 40 degrees. When the water gets to around 60+ the oxygen bubbles start to froth.

It is almost certain that this will happen due to the behaviour of the atom. This means that the hotter the water gets the more active the water molecules become. Thus the colder the water gets the less active the water becomes. Another theory is that different things adapt according to their habitat.

Therefore, catalase would be most active at around 37 degrees body temperature. This means that in this experiment catalase would be most active in the water bath that is at 40 degrees Celsius.

METHOD

Before the experiment could be started the following apparatus needed to be obtained:

Cork Borer

Water Baths at 3,20,40 and 60 degrees Celsius

Potato

Ruler

Stopwatch

Detergent

Hydrogen Peroxide

Now that all this apparatus has been obtained, it is possible to start the experiment. Eight test tubes will be required because the experiment is being done twice in each water bath.

Use a marker pen to mark the specific temperature on the test tubes so as to make sure that there are no possible errors. Now place these test tubes in a test tube rack. Take the cork borer no. 4, and take a cylinder of potato using the cork...