CHANGE IN SUBSTRATE CONCENTRATIONS ON THE ACTIVITY OF NAMED ENZYME(S)
Method:
- 0, 2.5, 5.0, 7.5, and 10mL hydrogen peroxide was added to 5 test tubes
- Each test tube was filled to 10 mL with distilled water
- 5 small cubes were cut from a potato OR fresh animal tissue (liver), all about the same size, using a scalpel
- One potato cube was placed in each test tube with hydrogen peroxide
- After 5 minutes, the height of foam formed was measured for each test tube
Results:
- Potato cubes provided the catalase enzyme which catalyses the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide into oxygen and water
- Increasing substrate concentration increased the enzyme’s rate of reaction. However, if substrate concentration is increased beyond a certain level, further increases in substrate concentration will not increase enzyme activity significantly. This is because all the available enzyme active sites are already taking part in reactions, and the limiting factor is now enzyme concentration.
Independent Variable: concentration of substrate (hydrogen peroxide)
Dependent Variable: height of foam formed