the activity of enzyme research

The aim of this research is to find out how temperature and pH influence enzymatic activity. This lab is divided into five parts. Part one includes the use of an enzyme catalyst to decompose hydrogen peroxide. The second section is concerned with the influence of temperature on the enzyme reaction. Parts three, four, and five assess reusability, reaction rate, and the effects of pH, respectively. The lab’s results coincided with the theory, according to the graphical analysis. In both cases, the amount of gas collected increases as time passes. The enzyme function is clearly greatest at the optimum temperature. This lab mainly aims to determine how the temperature, as well as the effects of pH are determined in part three, four, and five respectively. According to the graphical analysis, the result of the lab agreed with the hypothesis. In all cases, the quantity of gas collected increases with the rise in time. Evidently, the enzyme activity is highest at the optimal temperature.

Introduction

This lab mainly aims to determine how the temperature, as well as the pH, affects the enzymatic activities. It was hypothesized that the enzyme activity is highest (before it denatures) at the point where the catalyzes reaction has the optimal temperature. A remarkable chemical reactions’ variety can be carried out by living organisms both under the mild condition and rapidly. Usually, the enzymes that the cells produce are the ones responsible for performing these reactions by the organisms. By definition, enzymes refer to the organic catalysts. Catalysts, on the other hand, simple means substances that help in speeding up the chemical reactions’ rate without being altered by the reaction.

Each of the cells is responsible for the production of several types of enzymes. A substance or some reacting substances combine with the enzyme in the process of reaction. As a consequence, there is a release of the unalerted enzyme as the substrate changes. Most importantly, these enzymes can be reused since they are not altered. In living organisms, the process of chemical reaction occurs continuously. In effect, the hydrogen peroxide (a by-product) is produced after many metabolic reactions. Notably, this hydrogen peroxide is always harmful and can easily damage the cells especially when they are allowed in large number.

Materials and Methods

As already noted, this lab had a total of five parts. Part one involved the hydrogen peroxide decomposition by the use of enzyme catalyst. The second part concentrated on the effects of temperature on the enzyme reaction. Subsequently, an analysis was carried out to determine the possibility of reusing a catalyst. In part four, the iced liver reaction rate was determined as it returned to the room temperature. Finally, the effects of pH were determined in part five.

Part I: Hydrogen Peroxide Decomposition

After assembling all the required apparatuses, 5 ml of pH 7.0, H2O2 was put into test tubes at the station. Further, the hydrogen peroxide was observed in the test tube before recording the observations. At this point, 1 cm of banana was cut into two equal parts. These pieces were then weighed and trimmed to make them weigh 1 gram. Two new empty tubes were later labeled as D (diced) and W (whole). One wedge of banana was then dropped straight into the test tube W. Pieces were dropped into the test tube W after dicing the banana. The pressure was made to equilibrate by holding the stopper. Here, the expected result was hypothesized as; the speed of enzyme resulted from the increase of the temperature.

Part II: Effects of Temperature on the Reaction of Enzyme

The gas collection apparatus was filled and set up. Afterward, four test were obtained and 5 ml of Ph, 7.0, 3% H2O2 poured into them before they were labeled differently. Next, four cubes were cut before they were weighed to 0.5 grams. Each of the pieces of the weighed liver was pushed into a new empty test tube by the use of a stirring rod. They were then labeled accordingly. At this point, the small amount of deionized water was poured over the liver with label 37 and 37. What was expected was hypothesized. After that, any deionized water was poured before testing. Finally, each of the test tubes was tested differently.

Part III: Test for the Usability of the Catalase

In this step, H2O2 was poured from the tube that was labeled R. A piece of liver was cut and weighed to 0.5 grams. It was then placed in the labeled test tube. Noticeable, no reaction occurred at this point. The peroxide was already turned into O2. Furthermore, 5 ml of pH 7.0, 3% H2O2 was poured into the test tube with the used liver. At this point, the reaction occurred because of the addition of the new peroxide.

Part IV: Rate of Reaction of the Iced Liver that was Returned to Room Temperature

The hydroxide peroxide was poured out of the test tube that was labeled I. Subsequently, the iced (I) liver was allowed to return to the room temperature.

Part V: Effect of pH on the Activity of Enzyme

The gas collection apparatus was filled and set up. Additionally, different quantities of hydrogen peroxide were poured into the two test tubes that were obtained. Two cubes of the provided liver were then cut. Moreover, these cubes were weighed to 0.5 grams. Each of the 0.5-gram pieces of the liver was placed in the bottom of one of the two new empty test tubes. Various methods were then used for testing each of the test tubes.

Results

This section presents the findings from the lab. Various tables (i.e., table 1-4) are used to show the data of the gas collected under different conditions. Moreover, graphs are drawn to help in the analysis of each of the tabulated data. The gas collection apparatus was then filled and set up. Afterward, the liver was tested in different ways.

Table 1: Determination of the Ice Liver Reaction

Iced

Liver

O2 Gas Collected (ml)

0 min

1 min

2 min

3 min

4 min

5 min

6 min

Iced

1.0

10.31

14.2

16.1

18.1

20.6

23.4

Room

0

5.8

10.6

18.2

26.4

31

41.2

Figure 1: Graph of Gas Collected Against Time for Iced Liver

Table 2: Determination of the Liver pH Reaction

Liver

pH

O2 Gas Collected (ml)

0 min

1 min

2 min

3 min

4 min

5 min

6 min

3

2.1

2.7

3.8

4

4.3

4.6

4.7

7

0

13.9

23

27.6

31.2

34.4

38.5

10

1.1

1.3

1.3

1.3

1.3

1.3

1.3

Figure 2: Graph of Gas Collected Against Time for Liver pH

Table 3: Determination of the Liver Temperature Reaction

Liver

Temperature

O2 Gas Collected (ml)

0 min

1 min

2 min

3 min

4 min

5 min

6 min

Iced

1.0

10.3

14.2

16.1

18.1

20.6

23.4

Room

0

13.9

23

27.6

31.2

34.4

38.5

370C

1.0

28

35.5

37.2

38

38.8

39.2

Boiled

1.0

1.1

1.1

1.1

1.1

1.1

1.1

Figure 3: Graph of Gas Collected Against Time for Liver Temperature

Table 4: Determination of the Banana Reaction

Liver

pH

O2 Gas Collected (ml)

0 min

1 min

2 min

3 min

4 min

5 min

6 min

Whole (W)

0

1.1

2.2

3.1

3.2

3.4

3.5

Diced (D)

0

1.3

3.1

3.6

4.2

4.3

4.6

Figure 4: Graph of Gas Collected Against Time for Iced Liver of W and D

Discussion and Conclusion

The primary objective of this lab was achieved. It was possible to determine how the temperature and pH affect the enzymatic activities. The success of the lab relied heavily on a total of five steps as already noted. Overall, these findings provided answers to the hypothesis. According to the graphical analysis, the result of the lab agreed with the hypothesis. In all cases, the quantity of gas collected increases with the rise in time. Evidently, the enzyme activity is highest at the optimal temperature.

In figure 2, it is observed that the quantity of the gas collected for liver pH 10 failed to show any noticeable change. The graph is practically straight. The same scenario is also evident in figure 3 for the gas collected (Boiled). The quantity of the “boiled” does not change with time. It is also observed that the quantity of the gas obtained for Diced (D) is higher than that of Whole given the same variation of time.

Even though the primary objective of the lab was achieved, it was not possible to obtain everything at 100% perfect due to some errors. Normally, any possibility of the presence of an error in the lab can be minimized by ensuring that all the apparatus function properly. Moreover, one must always be very careful when taking the measurement as well at the time of recording the data. In my field of study, these results can advance my knowledge by enhancing the understanding of the concept of enzyme activity.