Catalase Experiment

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The experiment was conducted to observe the activity of an enzyme on a substrate and obtain both qualitative and quantitative data. The main purpose of this experiment was to test the correlation between time and level of O2 gas production when the substrate (hydrogen-peroxide) reacts with an enzyme catalase. It was hypothesized that if the enzyme catalase was tested with the hydrogen peroxide and water for 30, 60, 90, 120, and 150 seconds, then the level of O2 gas production would increase. This was hypothesized because it is known that when the enzyme catalase breaks down the hydrogen-peroxide, bubbles of oxygen are released in a chemical reaction, therefore increasing the level of O2 gas production. The experiment was performed three times …show more content…
The lowest amount of O2 gas production was noticed at 60 seconds. Observations that were made throughout experimentation was that the longer the enzyme catalase was left with the hydrogen-peroxide and water, activity in the reaction decreased and O2 gas production decreased as well. It was expected that the level of oxygen would keep increasing over time, but the data shows that the oxygen production increased and then decreased after 90 seconds on all three trials. The data rejected the hypothesis because the oxygen production decreased after 90 seconds, instead of increasing over time like what was hypothesized. All three trials showed a peak increase in oxygen gas production at 90 seconds and a decrease after that. The averages of all three trials support this as well. It can be concluded from the experimental trials that there was an increase in enzyme activity and subsequent peak in oxygen production with time and then a decrease in the enzyme activity and a subsequent decrease in oxygen production towards the end of the experiment. The Hydrogen peroxide breaks down into water, and oxygen is released in the process of the reaction with the help of the enzyme catalase. Overtime, the amount of hydrogen-peroxide decreases as it breaks down into water and O2 gas. The decrease in the amount of oxygen gas production …show more content…
Improvements made during the experimental phase included being more precise on time and measurements of materials that were being used.Times where error was made was usually during the process of timing, as we ran behind on setting the timer. Assumptions were made on whether or not there was a direct correlation between time and oxygen production.The experiment was limited in time and amount of substrate and catalase used. If there were more trials then the correlation could be established more accurately. Weaknesses mainly included variations in recorded results in the three individual trials. Improvements that could be made is using and trying different concentrations of the substrate and enzyme catalase, and testing their reactions for longer periods of time, and increasing the number of trials in order to get more clear and comprehensible data that shows a more direct correlation. This experiment gives us insight into enzyme activity.Due to the fact that there were variations in the trial data report, more trials would be needed in order to rule out errors and establish any further