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Biology Catalase

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Submitted By spreedbg
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Effect of Catalase on Hydrogen Peroxide
Introduction
Catalase is an oxidative catalyst enzyme that is found in all organisms that require oxygen or can survive in its presence. Catalase is an enzyme which catalyzes the breakdown of hydrogen peroxide into oxygen and water (Everything Bio, 2007). Catalase is found in large amounts in the liver and serves as the liver’s cleansing function. Hydrogen peroxide is a colorless, dense liquid that is often used as bleach or is diluted with water for use as an antiseptic (Science, 2010). Hydrogen peroxide causes processes similar to rusting. Metals rust as they react with oxygen and such molecules that cause rusting. Oxidative reactions can occur in plant or animal tissues if oxidative molecules are present. These anti-oxidants prevent tissue from oxidizing by aborting oxidizing molecules like hydrogen peroxide. Catalase is one of these anti-oxidant molecules. When the catalase comes in contact with hydrogen peroxide, it turns the hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) into water (H2O) and oxygen gas (O2). Catalase does this extremely efficiently, up to 200,000 reactions per second (How Stuff Works, 2013). The purpose of this experiment is to test the effect of catalase on hydrogen peroxide at different temperatures. My hypothesis is that the beaker with room temperature water will produce a higher level of bubbles showing that catalase is in high frequency at this temperature.
Methods
Performing the lab was as fun as it was simple. The materials that were needed include: a potato, hydrogen peroxide, three beakers, permanent marker, a knife, water, pipette, a ruler, and a potato masher. The first step in the experiment is to cut up a raw potato and mash it. If you cook the potato, the enzyme will break down. Start boiling water so that the next step can be performed. Acquire three beakers and label them room temperature, boiled and ice. Make a potato blend by mixing 40g of the mashed potato with 100ml of water and add 1ml of the potato blend to each beaker. Apply 15ml of room temperature water to the first beaker, 15ml of boiling water to the second beaker and 15ml of ice water to the third beaker. Add two drops of hydrogen peroxide to the potato blend in the bottom of the beaker. Foam should appear quickly if the experiment is done properly. The data that will be collected is which beaker produced the most bubbles, which indicates the effect of catalase on hydrogen peroxide. The data will be analyzed by observing each beaker to see what activity is occurring.
Results
The foam that is produced is the end of result of the catalase converting the hydrogen peroxide into water and oxygen, which are the bubbles that fill with oxygen. The more bubbles that are produced, the faster that the catalase is carrying out the end reaction. In this potato catalase experiment, the beaker with the room temperature water produced a bubble height of 5 cm which shows that the catalase is at a high functioning level at room temperature. The beaker that was filled with ice water produced a lower amount of bubbles measuring 1 cm, which shows that the ice water was a lower temperature and it slowed down the catalase enzyme. The beaker with the boiling water did not produce any bubbles, which shows that the catalase was degraded by the very hot temperature. I used a table to show each beaker that had a different type of temperature in it and my observation of the reaction. The more foam that is produced means that that catalase enzyme is present and functional.
Discussion
My hypothesis is that the beaker with room temperature water will produce the most bubbles showing that catalase is in high frequency at this temperature. The hypothesis that was stated actually came true when the experiment was completed. Hydrogen peroxide will slowly lose the extra oxygen and change into water. Certain chemicals will speed up the reaction, causing the extra oxygen to become available quickly. Catalase is a chemical that can do that. There were no questions or issues that were brought up at the beginning of the experiment that did not get answered. Further investigations that can be done regarding this experiment are to expose the potato to different conditions. An experiment involving sodium bicarbonate, vinegar and room temperature water in different test tubes could be done to see what the effects would be. All of the data that was collected in this experiment supported the hypothesis and this was an overall excellent experiment.
Conclusion
This experiment showed that hydrogen peroxide will slowly lose extra oxygen and change into water. A beaker full of room temperature water will have the most functionability because it is not altered. Overall, the effects of catalase on hydrogen peroxide were proven in a scientific manner.

References
Everything Bio. (2007). Definition of catalase. Retrieved from http://www.everythingbio.com/glos/definition.php?word=catalase
How Stuff Works. (2013). Why does hydrogen peroxide foam when you put it on a cut? Retrieved from http://science.howstuffworks.com/innovation/science-questions/question115.htm
Science. (2010). Hydrogen peroxide science definition. Retrieved from http://science.yourdictionary.com/hydrogen-peroxide

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