NAME: Antonio Willoughby
DATE: February 5, 2023
LAB: 9
TOPIC: ENZYMES
TITLE: Effect of temperature on enzyme activity
AIM: To determine the effect of temperature on the enzyme Catalase.
APPARATUS/MATERIALS: Petri dishes, beakers, dropper, test tube holder, hydrogen peroxide,
mortar, pestle, pre-treated peas (boiled, frozen and room temperature), thermometer, test tubes,
spatula
PROCEDURE:
1. Three sets of test tubes were labeled based on the conditions to be investigated; room
temperature, boiled, and frozen.
2. Three frozen peas were crushed and placed a spatula full in the corresponding test tube.
3. 3mls of Hydrogen Peroxide were added to the tube and covered.
4. The height of foam was recorded.
5. Steps 2 to 4 were repeated for untreated and boiled peas and the average foam height for
both reactions was calculated.
6. All results were observed and recorded.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
Enzymes, which are proteins found in living things, act as catalysts in biochemical reactions by
speeding up chemical reactions. They are essential for metabolic processes, including digestion,
respiration, and [Link] lower the activation energy required for a chemical
reaction to occur, resulting in an increase in the reaction rate. They do this by binding to specific
reactants called substrates and positioning them for the chemical reaction to occur. The
enzyme-substrate complex then breaks down into the product(s) of the reaction and the enzyme
[Link] activity can be affected by several factors, including pH, substrate concentration,
enzyme concentration, and temperature. Temperature is particularly important, with enzymes
working best at an optimum temperature around 37°C, which is the body temperature for
humans. Beyond this temperature, enzymes can lose their shape and become inactive, while at
lower temperatures, enzyme efficiency [Link] is an enzyme found in almost all
living organisms that use oxygen and is responsible for breaking down toxic hydrogen peroxide
into water and oxygen. This is important for maintaining cellular homeostasis and preventing cell
and tissue damage. Catalase is especially abundant in liver cells, where it helps to detoxify
harmful substances.
RESULTS:
TABLE SHOWING THE RESULTS OF THE EXPERIMENT DEMONSTRATING
THE EFFECT OF TEMPERATURE ON THE ENZYME CATALASE
Treatment Observation Estimated rate of Height of foam Avg height of foam (cm)
reaction (0-5 scale) (cm)
Frozen peas Run 1: Run 1: Run 1: 3.2 cm 3.1 cm
Run 2: Run 2: Run 2: 3 cm
Boiled peas Run 1: Run 1: Run 1: 2.1 cm 2.4 cm
Run 2: Run 2: Run 2: 2.7 cm
Room Run 1: Run 1: Run 1: 4.6 cm 3.9 cm
temperature
Run 2: Run 2: Run 2: 3.1 cm
VARIABLES:
Manipulated: boiled peas, frozen peas, room temperature peas
Responding: the height of foam
Controlled: hydrogen peroxide, mortar and pestle
DISCUSSION:
When you freeze peas, it can harm the structure of the cells in the peas, which can make it harder
for the enzyme catalase to do its job. However, if the peas are frozen quickly and at very low
temperatures, this can help keep the catalase working well. Some studies have shown that
freezing can actually increase catalase activity in some plant tissues because the cold temperature
can break down the cell membranes and release the [Link] you boil peas, it can make the
catalase stop working properly because the high temperature can damage the shape of the
enzyme. If you boil the peas for a long time or at a very high temperature, the catalase can
become inactive and not work at [Link] room temperature, the catalase in peas should work pretty
well because this is close to the temperature that the enzyme likes best. However, over time,
exposure to air and light can cause the catalase to break down and not work as well [Link]
was expected that high temperatures would decrease catalase activity, based on the fact that heat
can denature enzymes. On the other hand, you might expect that lower temperatures could
preserve or enhance catalase activity, based on the fact that catalase has an optimal temperature
range at which it works [Link] boiled peas produced the lowest height as it demonstrated that
the presence of heat denatures the enzyme; frozen peas produced a better result proving that
lower temperatures, though negative, may sometimes preserve catalytic activity; room
temperature peas however possessed the most optimal results showing that catalase performs
best close to room temperature. It is a enzyme which has many usage in the body and therefore
its optimal temperature is around the normal body temperature, (37 °C)
SOURCE OF ERROR:
● Temperature: frozen peas not being cold enough and boiled peas not being hot enough
● Timing error: incomplete reaction
LIMITATION:
● Purity of peas
● Strength of hydrogen peroxide
CONCLUSION:
In conclusion, high temperatures cause catalase to be deemed ineffective; low temperatures are
not completely negative for catalase however the enzyme performs at its best in an environment
of normal room temperature.
