The Effect of Temperature on

Enzyme Activity [Liver]

Group:
Lala:
Alice:
Charice:
Holly:
Janet:
October 30th, 2016
On my honor, I have neither received nor given any unauthorized aid
on this assignment.

INTRODUCTION:
According to Chemistry for Biologists, enzymes are the effective catalysts for
biochemical reactions. To accelerate those reactions, they provide an alternative reaction trail of
lower activation energy (Enzymes).
Quoting Science Museum, Enzymes are proteins that control the speed of chemical
reactions in your body. Theyre very important in our lives because those reactions would occur
really slowly to keep you alive without enzymes. For examples: some enzymes (like the ones in
humans gut) can break down molecules into smaller ones and some (like the ones that make
DNA) can use small molecules to build up large complex ones. Not only that, enzymes also help
cells communicate with each other and keep them growing (Why are enzymes important?).
According to Worthington Biochemical Corporation, there are a lot of factors that
effect enzyme activities, such as, temperature, pH, enzyme concentration, substrate
concentration, and the presence of any inhibitors or activators (Factors Affecting Enzyme
Activity).
We do this lab experiment, which is The Effect of Temperature on Enzyme Activity,
to test and know more about the effect of temperature on enzyme activity, especially on the liver.
If the temperture is high, the reaction would become faster and faster. In contrast, if the
temperature is low, the reaction would be slower and slower.
According to LiveStrong, human liver is the part inside your body, which is placed in
the abdomen with its bigger lobe on the right side of the body. The liver is the largest gland in
our body and it has unbelievable regeneration abilities. That gland releases bile, which is a
green-colored digestive enzyme reserved in the gall bladder during being hungry or fasting
(What Digestive Enzyme is Produced by the Liver?).
According to Medical Daily, peroxide is a kind of solution made up of hydrogen and
oxygen. Its a strong oxidizer and also used to clean and prevent infections. If we use it, this
antiseptic would bubble as the enzyme catalase. Therefore, when the catalase touches the skin, it
turns the hydrogen peroxide into water and oxygen gas. However, hydrogen peroxide contains so

much oxygen for the blood that can lead to many potetial issues. Although hydrogen peroxide
cant cause initial pain, but when youre imbued it through the skin, it can cause a lot of
problems ( The Dangers of Hydrogen Peroxide).
.

Accoding to Scientific American, catalase is a kind of enzyme in the liver which is used

to break down harmful hydrogen peroxide into oxygen and water. When this reaction takes
place, oxygen gas bubbles escape and create foam ( The Liver: Helping Enzymes Help You!).
The chemical equation that illustrates for this experiment is H2O2 + catalase = H2O +
O2

HYPOTHESIS:
If we test the catalase in a cold condition, the rate at which catalase breaks down H2O2
will be slower. If we test the catalase in a hot condition, the rate at which catalase breaks down
H2O2 will be faster.
MATERIALS:

Liver puree
Petri dish
Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)
Hot water bath
Ice water bath
Empty bath (used to test Room Temperature)
Filter paper
Forceps
Graduated cylinder
A 50ml

3 thermometers for each bath ( hot, ice, and empty bath)

Clock or cellphone (used to time the reaction)

PROCEDURE:
1. First of all, we need to wear the gloves.
2. Pour the liver puree on 3 petri dishes.
3. After that, we place 3 petri dishes, which contain liver puree, into 3 different baths, such
as, a hot water bath, an ice water bath, and an empty bath.

+ Testing with hot water:

First, we put liver puree into the hot water bath.
Then, use the thermometer to measure the temperature.
Next, we need to wait untill it reaches the desire temperature.
While waiting, we take 25ml of hydrogen peroxide with the graduated
cylinder and fill it into a 50ml beaker.
After the thermometer has reached the desire temperature, we use the
forceps to put the filter paper on top of the liver puree and make sure it
attach the enzyme from the liver.
We put that filter paper ( which contains the enzyme) deeply into a 50ml
beaker.
Then, we observe and time it, untill the paper floats up on top of water.
Write the result that we have when we time the reaction and the
temperature when we measure the liver down on our lab notebook.
Finally, repeat those activities 2 times and write 2 different results down.

+ Testing with ice water:

First, we put liver puree into the ice water bath.

Then, use the thermometer to measure the temperature.

Next, we need to wait untill it reaches the desire temperature.

While waiting, we take 25ml of hydrogen peroxide with the graduated

cylinder and fill it into a 50ml beaker.

After the thermometer has reached the desire temperature, we use the
forceps to put the filter paper on top of the liver puree and make sure it
attach the enzyme from the liver.

We put that filter paper ( which contains the enzyme) deeply into a 50ml
beaker.

Then, we observe and time it, untill the paper floats up on top of water.

Write the result that we have when we time the reaction and the
temperature when we measure the liver down on our lab notebook.

Finally, repeat those activities 2 times and write 2 different results down.

+ Testing with room temperature:

First, we put liver puree into the empty bath.
Then, use the thermometer to measure the temperature.
Next, we need to wait untill it reaches the desire temperature.
While waiting, we take 25ml of hydrogen peroxide with the graduated
cylinder and fill it into a 50ml beaker.
After the thermometer has reached the desire temperature, we use the
forceps to put the filter paper on top of the liver puree and make sure it
attach the enzyme from the liver.
We put that filter paper ( which contains the enzyme) deeply into a 50ml
beaker.
Then, we observe and time it, untill the paper floats up on top of water.
Write the result that we have when we time the reaction and the
temperature when we measure the liver down on our lab notebook.
Finally, repeat those activities 2 times and write 2 different results down.

DATA & RESULTS:

Data Table

Data Graph
If we test the enzyme with different conditions, the results would be different too. When
we test the enzyme in hot condition, the reaction becomes faster and reduces a lot of foams. In

the other hand, when we test the enzyme in cold condition, the reaction turns slower and reduces
less foams. However, when we try it with the room temperature, the amount of foams from the
reaction will be in the middle, which means that it cannot be faster and more than hot condition
or slower and less than cold condition.

DISCUSSION:
My graph is used to describe the temperature and the time of the reaction. If the
temperature is high, the time that the reaction occurs would be short. For example, when the
temperature is 37o , the time is only about 11 seconds. In contrast, if the temperature is low, the
time that the reaction occurs would be long. For example, when the temperature is 11o , the time
is near 40 seconds. We need to graph the data because its not only make people understand the
experiment more, but also know exactly about the change of the reaction. Besides, the graph
makes it easier to see the relationship of my data.
The graph supports my hypothesis a lot because it proves that my inferences are true. In
my opinion, some experimental errors that can affecte to my results are when we time the
reactions wrong and measure the temperature of each condition incorrectly. Therefore, we need
to repeat the experiment three times to make sure reactions are correct. Not only that, it also
helps us to find the average of the each different condition easily and clearly. Average is very
importatnt because it summaries the measurement of temperature and time. We can make a
graph exactly from the average numbers.

RESEARCH QUESTIONS:
According to LiveScience, some enzymes help break the lagre molecules into very small
pieces to make humans body can absorb them easily. Other enzymes help attach 2 molecules
together for creating a new molecule. Quoting LiveScience, enzymes are highly selective
catalysts, which means that each enzyme can only accelerate one specific reaction. Besides, the
molecules that an enzyme works with are called substrates, which attach to a place on the
enzyme called the active site. We have two theories, which are used to explain the enzyme-

substrate interaction: the lock-and-key model and the induced-fit model. The first one is about
the active site and subtrate are shaped and fit perfectly. However, the second one is opposite.
Nonetheless, whatever the theory, the reactions still speed up greatly and the substrates still
attach to the active site of the enzyme (How Do Enzymes Work?).
According to Quizlet, a change in pH could change the shape of hexokinase. This
change would make less or subtract the ability of glucose and ATP in order to attach to the
active site on the enzyme ( Biology Chapter 7.1 and Chapter 2).

REFLECTION:
I learn a lot of necessary things through this lab, such as, how to test the enzyme, how to
use the graduated cyclinder, and how to make a graph for a data table. I like the experiment a lot.
Although the smell of the liver puree isnt good at all, I still love to learn and practice the
experiment. This experiment had challenged my patience many times. For example, when I
measured the temperature, I have to keep calm and wait till it reaches the desire temperature.
Therefore, I have to be more and more patient in this experiment.
Not only that, my group had done very well. For examples, we have to seperate specific
tasks for each member, discuss about the enzyme, and make a graph data. However, in order to
improve our team more, we need to try hard and listen to our teachers directions carefully.

Work Cited
Chemistry for Biologists
<http://www.rsc.org/Education/Teachers/Resources/cfb/enzymes.htm.> Accessed 30 Oct.
2016.
ScienceMuseum
<www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/whoami/findoutmore/yourbody/whatdoyourcellsdo/whatisacell
madeof/whyareenzymesimportant.> Accessed 30 Oct. 2016.
Worthington Biochemical Corporation , 730 Vassar Ave., Lakewood, NJ 08701,
<http//:www.worthington-biochem.com/introbiochem/factors.html.> Accessed 30 Oct.
2016.
OKAGBARE, OSHETISI. Live Strong
<http//: www.livestrong.com/article/423200-what-are-the-digestive-enzymes-in-thestomach-mouth-called/.> Accessed 16 Aug. 2013.
Tucker, Nikki. Medical Daily 30 Aug. 2012,
<http//:www.medicaldaily.com/dangers-hydrogen-peroxide-242258.> Accessed 30 Oct.
2016.
Buddies, Science. Science American 8 Mar. 2012 ,
<https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/bring-science-home-liver-helping-enzymes/.>
Accessed 30 Oct. 2016.
Castro, Joseph. Live Science 26 Apr. 2014,
<http//:www.livescience.com/45145-how-do-enzymes-work.html.> Accessed 30 Oct.
2016.
Quizlet
< https://quizlet.com/100199555/biology-chapter-71-and-chapter-2-flash-cards/.> Accessed 30
Oct. 2016.