Experiment #: 3

TITLE: Enzymes

AIM: To determine the effect of pH on the action of the enzyme Catalase in chicken liver.

APPARATUS/MATERIALS: Petri dishes, beakers, dropper, hydrogen peroxide, distilled water, mortar, pestle,
test tubes, spatula, HCL, NaOH, balance, liver, Boiling tubes, Scalpel

PROCEDURE: Effect of pH:

1. Label three boiling tubes based on the different pH conditions to be investigated (neutral, acidic,
alkaline
2. Add three (3) drops of HCL to the test tube labelled acidic.
3. Weigh 2g of fresh liver
4. Crush the liver using the mortar and pestle then add it to the tube containing HCL
5. Add 2cm3of hydrogen peroxide to the liver and HCL.
6. On a scale of 0-5 (0=no, 1=very slow, 2=slow, 3=fairly fast, 4=fast and 5=very fast) estimate the rate of
the reaction based on how fast effervescence appears in the tubes
7. Measure the height of the bubbles in the tube
8. Repeat steps 2-7 using NaOH (alkaline) and water (neutral condition)
9. Tabulate all observations.

OBSERVATIONS/RESULTS:

pH Observation Estimated rate of reaction Height of foam (cm)

condition (0-5 scale)
Neutral

Acidic

Alkaline

Criteria for MM Mks Total

Accurate measurement of hydrogen peroxide using measuring cylinder 2
Accurate weight of liver 2
Careful handling of liver 1
Careful use of scalpel to cut liver 1
Sequence of steps for procedure followed correctly 2

Total 8