Enzyme Lab Discussions

Lab #1: Effect of temperature on enzymes.

Enzymes are globular proteins which catalyse metabolic

reactions. Enzymes lower the activation energy needed for the reaction

to take place. This results in the speeding up of reactions. Enzymes

remain unchanged at the end of the reaction. Each enzyme has a

pocket where molecules are able to bind to which is called the active

site. The molecule which bind to the enzyme is called the substrate.

Enzymes are highly specific to their substrates because each active site

has a distinct shape. In order for a substrate to bind to an enzyme it

should mirror the shape of the active site.

As the temperature increases the rate of an enzyme catalysed

reaction also increases because there is an increase in kinetic energy

which causes the molecules of substrates to collide more frequently

with the enzymes. However, as the temperature continues to increase

the bonds which stabilise the globular protein began to break

(hydrogen bonds, ionic bonds, disulphide bonds and hydrophobic

interactions). This is the highest rate of reaction of the enzymes. This

Is called optimum temperature. This is temperature where the highest

 Enzyme Lab Discussions

number of successful collisions take place. At optimum temperature

the active site changes shape and the enzyme is now denatured. If the

temperature exceeds the optimum temperature, there will be a sharp

decrease in the rate of activity.

The enzyme found in potatoes is called catalase. Catalase

catalyses the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide. When the enzyme

catalase comes into contact with its substrate, hydrogen peroxide, it

starts breaking it down into water and oxygen. Oxygen is a gas and

therefore wants to escape the liquid. However, the dish soap that you

added to all your solutions is able to trap the gas bubbles, which

results in the formation of a stable foam. 

Lab #2: Effect of Substrate Concentration on enzymes.

Enzymes are globular proteins which catalyse metabolic

reactions. Enzymes lower the activation energy needed for the reaction

to take place. This results in the speeding up of reactions. Enzymes

remain unchanged at the end of the reaction. Each enzyme has a

pocket where molecules are able to bind to which is called the active

site. The molecule which bind to the enzyme is called the substrate.
 Enzyme Lab Discussions

Enzymes are highly specific to their substrates because each active site

has a distinct shape. In order for a substrate to bind to an enzyme it

should mirror the shape of the active site.

When substrate concentration increases, the rate of reaction of

an enzyme controlled reaction also increases. The more substrate

molecules there are around, the more often an enzyme’s active site can

bind to one. However, if the substrate concentration continues to

increase and the enzyme concentration remains constant, there will

come a point where all active sites are occupied. So no matter how

many substrates are added the rate of reaction will remain constant

and no longer increase.

When the enzyme in potato, catalase, comes into contact with the

hydrogen peroxide it began to break it down into water and oxygen.

The oxygen released reacts with the soap solution causing foam to

form.

In the graph, as the concentration of hydrogen peroxide

increases the amount of foam formed also increases. This is because as

potato is added to more concentrated solution of hydrogen peroxide,

 Enzyme Lab Discussions

the more reactions which take place which results in more oxygen

being released. The more oxygen being released; the more foam being

formed when soap solution is added. However, at a point the amount

of foam produced remains constant. This is because all the active sites

of catalase are now occupied and there are no active sites available for

the excess hydrogen peroxide to bind to.

Lab #3: Effect of pH on enzymes.

Enzymes are globular proteins which catalyse metabolic

reactions. Enzymes lower the activation energy needed for the reaction

to take place. This results in the speeding up of reactions. Enzymes

remain unchanged at the end of the reaction. Each enzyme has a

pocket where molecules are able to bind to which is called the active

site. The molecule which bind to the enzyme is called the substrate.

Enzymes are highly specific to their substrates because each active site

has a distinct shape. In order for a substrate to bind to an enzyme it

should mirror the shape of the active site.

Enzyme Lab Discussions