Enzymes and PH - The Effect of PH On The Activity of The Enzyme Catalase

 

Enzymes and pH Aim: to investigate the effect of pH on the activity of the enzyme catalase Method/Materials: refer to sheet Results: Test tube number

10 mLs hydrogen peroxide

Increase in height after 5 minutes (mm)

1

pH 1

6

2

pH 3

8

3

pH 7

8

4

pH 9

11

5

pH 11

0

Discussion: Potato containing catalase was added to 5 released, test tubes,ineach containing different was pH of hydrogen peroxide. The amount of oxygen the form of froth f rotha bubbles, recorded. The test tube with a pH of 1 hydrogen peroxide produced 6mm bubbles, the test tube with pH of 3 released 8mm, the test tube with pH of 7 released 8mm, the test tube with pH of 9 released 11mm, and the test tube with pH of 11 did not release any. Catalase is an enzyme that speeds up the breaking down of hydrogen peroxide into water and oxygen: hydrogen peroxide ---> water + oxygen gas The rate at which oxygen is evolved reflects the catalase enzyme activity. As enzyme activity increases, so will the amount of oxygen produced by conversion. The hydrogen peroxide with the pH of 9 produced the most oxygen. The pH of 9 was the most favourable pH value, the point where the t he enzyme activity was greatest, known as the optimum pH. The optimum pH varies from one enzyme to another another.. The theoretical optimum pH of catalase is 7. From the experimental results, it can be estimated that the optimum pH of catalase is 9. Repetition of the experiment would improve result reliability and perhaps accuracy. A possible source of error could be that the amount of oxygen released was not measured accurately. Conclusion: The effect of pH on the activity of the enzyme catalase was investigated through the addition of catalase to different pHs of hydrogen peroxide. The amount of oxygen released from the reaction reflected the t he catalase enzyme activity.