The Effect of Temperature on the Rate of an Enzyme Catalysed Reaction

Aim: To find the effect of temperature on enzymes, using a potato as a catalyst. The source of catalase is in the potato cells.

2H2O2 → O2 + H2O

Planning:

Introduction: An Enzyme is any one of many specialised organic substances, composed of polymers of amino acids, that act as catalysts to regulate the speed of the many chemical reactions involved in the metabolism of living organisms

Enzymes are classified into several broad categories, such as hydrolytic, oxidising, and reducing, depending on the type of reaction they control. Hydrolytic enzymes accelerate reactions in which a substance is broken down into simpler compounds through reaction with water molecules. Oxidising enzymes, known as oxidises, accelerate oxidation reactions; reducing enzymes speed up reduction reactions, in which oxygen is removed. Many other enzymes catalyse other types of reactions.

Individual enzymes are named by adding 'ASE' to the name of the substrate with which they react.

Rusting can completely degrade iron. Note the galv...

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English: Progress curve for an enzyme reaction. Th...

The enzyme that controls urea decomposition is called urease; those that control protein hydrolyses are known as proteinases. However, some enzymes, such as the proteinases trypsin and pepsin, retain the names used before this nomenclature was adopted

Enzymes are large proteins that speed up chemical reactions. In their globular structure, one or more polypeptide chains twist and fold, bringing together a small number of amino acids to form the active site, or the location on the enzyme where the substrate binds and the reaction takes place. Enzyme and substrate fail to bind if their shapes do not match exactly. This ensures that the enzyme does not participate in the wrong reaction. The enzyme itself is unaffected by the reaction. When the products have been released, the enzyme is ready to bind with a new substrate

Properties of Enzymes

enzymes are typical catalysts: they are capable of increasing the rate...