Factors affecting

enzyme
activity:The effect
of pH on catalase
activity
Duica Lozo
Biology HL, D block
07.03.2013.
Teacher: Selma arani

United World College in Mostar

2012/2013
Page 1

INTRODUCTION:
Substances, called enzymes that work as catalysts, are globular proteins that
exist within living cells and work as active participants in chemical reaction that
occur inside organism, and speed up chemical reactions without being changed
during reaction. The way they work is that they lower activation energy and then
speed up reaction.
Catalase is an enzyme that is found in all living organisms, which are exposed to
oxygen.

RESEARCH QUESTION:
How do solutions with different pH affect catalase activity in raw potato?

HYPOTHESIS:
If the optimum pH of an enzyme is changed, then that will decrease enzyme
activity.

VARIABLES:
Dependent: enzyme activity rate
Independent: pH value (for KOH pH is high and for H2SO4 is low)
Controlled variable: solutions of acid and alkaline, amount of potato, time,
amount of water

APPARATUS AND MATERIALS:

-3 test tubes
-test tube rack
-2 potatoes
-200 ml of water
-2 beakers (150 ml and 50 ml)
-H2SO4 solution, 1M
-KOH solution, 1M
United World College in Mostar
2012/2013
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-Hydrogen peroxide solution

-Marker
-Measuring cylinder (0.5ml)
-Stopwatch (0.01s)
-Pipettes
-Gloves
-pH paper

Procedure:
1. Take 3 test tubes, and then with marker label them with numbers from 1-3
2.Mark each test tube with marker at 3 cm and 7cm from bottom
3. Add same amount of chopped raw potato into each of the tubes
4. Into tube 1 add water to 3 cm mark
5. Into tube 2 add 0.2M of sulphuric acid (H2SO4) on the 3 cm mark
6. Into tube 3 add 0.2M of potassium hydroxide (KOH) on the 3 cm mark
7. Wait for 5 minutes
8. Add hydrogen peroxide to the 7 mark of each test tube
9. Use pH paper to determine the pH of the solution in each tube (if available
any pH paper)

United World College in Mostar

2012/2013
Page 3