Activity 10

Effect of pH on enzyme activity

Shaina A. Jumaani
Jan Paul Beatingo
Eliel Gulane
Objectives
• Determine the effect of acids and alkalis on
reaction rate.
• Determine the optimum pH of the enzyme used
RESULT
Time in Tube 1 Tube 2 Tube 3
minutes

30 + - - + + -

15 + - - + + -

15 + - - + + -
1.) In which tube is there evidence of
unhydrolyzed starch after 30 minutes?
• Since tube 1 and tube 3 showed the positive
results of a violet-blue solution it indicates the
presence of the starch and that means that the
starch on those tubes are unhydrolyzed.
2) What is the action of acid and akali on
the enzyme in saliva?
The acidity of the environment changes the shape of
proteins in the same way that temperature does. Do you
remember that pH is a measure of acidity? An increased
acidity near an enzyme can cause its shape to change. Those
polar and nonpolar amino acids start to twist. If there is
enough of a change, the protein could unravel and become
totally ineffective.

Since the exact distribution of changes of the R groups

makes the active site most efficient occur only at a specific
pH , raising or lowering the pH reduces and bind the
substance- thereby decrease enzymatic activity.
What is the optimum pH of the enzyme in the saliva?

• The optimum pH for enzymatic activity of

salivary amylase ranges from 6-7. above and
below this range, the reaction rate reduces as
enzymes get denature. The enzyme salivary
amylase is most active at pH 6.8.
Graph of Effect of Ph on
the enzyme activity