Enzyme Investigation: Rate of Reaction

Aim
To determine the effect of substrate concentration (hydrogen peroxide H₂O₂) on
the rate of the reaction (time take for filter paper to rise).

Hypothesis
As the substrate concentration increases (H₂O₂) it is predicted that the rate of
the reaction (time taken for filter paper to rise) will also increase but after a
certain point, the results will then plateau. This is because as the substrate
concentration increases, there are not enough enzymes to work on the
substrate.

Variables
Manipulated – Concentration of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂)
Respondent – Time take for filter paper to rise (indicates the rate of reaction
through the production of oxygen)
Control – Species of liver (cow)
Control – Substrate used (Hydrogen peroxide)
Control – Volume of water (100mL)
Control – Size of filter paper / concentration of catalase (2cm²)

Materials
– Liver
– Mortar and pestle
– Filter Paper
– Scissors
– Beakers
– Hydrogen Peroxide (1%)
– Stopwatch

Method
1. Grind liver in mortar and pestle to produce juice
2. Cut the filter paper into 2cm x 2xm squares
3. Set up 3 beakers and add 100mL of water to each
4. Add 5 drops, 10 drops and 15 drops of hydrogen peroxide to each beaker
5. Dip filter paper square into the “liver juice”
6. Dropped soaked paper into the first beaker.
7. Using a stop watch, record the time taken for the paper to sink and return to
the surface.
8. Repeat steps 5 – 7 for each different amount of hydrogen peroxide
9. If time allows, repeat the experiment for more accurate results

Diagram

Data Collection
 Amount of Hydrogen 5 drops 10 drops 15 20
Peroxide drops drops
Trial 1 1 minute < 10.54 4.06 6.47
sec sec sec
Trial 2 1 minute < 10.23 4.32 6.39
sec sec sec
Trial 3 1 minute < 10.38 3.98 6.4 sec
sec sec

Data Processing
Amount of Hydrogen 5 drops 10 drops 15 drops 20 drops
Peroxide
Average Time 1 minute 10.38 4.12 sec 6.42 sec
sec

Discussion
From the results shown in the graph, it can be seen that the more substrate
there is (in this case hydrogen peroxide) the faster the rate of reaction (time for
filter paper to float to the top) although at a certain point, the rate of reaction
begins to slow down. This may be because the concentration of substrate
outnumbers the amount of enzymes meaning that there are fewer enzymes to
“work” on the substrates.
From our study done on enzymes, we know that each enzyme can only work on
one substrate at a time and needs time to prepare itself before working on
another substrate. Therefore, when the concentration of the substrate reaches a
certain amount, the rate of reaction will slowly decrease.

Conclusion
As it can be seen from the results, the rate of reaction increases and then begins
to slow down as the substrate concentration increases. This means that the
hypothesis was partly correct. The rate of reaction did slow down but it did not
“plateau” as predicted.