The Effect of Temperature on an Enzyme

            Introduction/Purpose: An enzyme is a protein that works as a catalyst for biochemical reactions. This means that enzymes work to speed up the rate the biochemical reactions occur, so that chemicals that are required for life functions are made at a faster rate. The purpose of t his experiment is to determine how temperature affects the rate of catalysis of an enzyme. This will be done by coating several paper disks into beakers of differently heated enzymes, and observing how fast they rise to the surface of a solution of hydrogen peroxide.
             Hypothesis: As the temperature increases, the rate of enzyme activity should increase. This is because increasing the temperature can usually speed up chemical reactions. Increasing the temperature should speed up the catalytic properties of this particular enzyme. However, increasing the temperature too much should cause the enzyme to stop working. This is because enzymes have a certain temperature range they function in. if the temperature leaves this range, the enzyme should no longer work.
             Materials:.
             Potato Pulp containing enzyme.
             3% Hydrogen Peroxide.
             12 x filter paper disks.
             15 x test tubes.
             3 x large beakers.
             Small graduated cylinder.
             Ice.
             Hot plate.
             Stopwatch.
             Thermometer.
             Tweezers.
             Procedure:.
             1. The three large beakers were filled with water. Additionally, ice was put into one of the beakers.
             2. One of the other two beakers was put on the hot plate. The hot plate was turned onto HIGH. There were now three beakers: one being heated, one being made colder, and one was neither heated nor made colder.
             3. Using the graduated cylinder, 10 mL of the potato pulp was measured and poured into three test tubes. One of these test tubes was placed into each of the three large beakers. The graduated cylinder was then thoroughly rinsed.
             4. Using the graduated cylinder, 10mL of hydrogen peroxide was measured and poured into each of the twelve remaining test tubes.
             5. 30 minutes after the potato pulp test tubes were put into the large beakers, the temperatures of the potato pulp were taken using the thermometer, and recorded.