BIOLOGY INVESTIGATORY

PROJECT 2021-22

TOPIC: Optimum pH Required for

the Action of Catalase Enzyme.

VARSHINI SHEKAR
XII F
BOARD ROLL NO:18608364

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 CERTIFICATE
Name:Varshini Shekar
Class:12 F
Roll No:18608364
School:Delhi Public School,Bangalore
South
Academic Session:2021-22

This is certified to be the bonafide work of the student Varshini

Shekar in the Biology project “Optimum pH required for the
action of Catalase Enzyme” during the academic year 2021-22.

Internal examiner’s signature Student’s Signature

Examiner No:

External Examinor’s signature School Seal

Examiner No:

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 PREFACE
The purpose of this project is to investigate the optimum pH
required for catalase reaction in living organisms,the various
factors affecting its mechanism and its intensity and duration
of this process through an experiment.Green grams under
differing temperature and instances were observed and
compared with the functions in other beings and carefully
analyzed to come to conclusion.

There are several researches being done in catalase reactions

and its ph under many circumstances to record its productivity
Its aiming to determine all the important enzymes in protecting
the cell from oxidative damage by reactive oxygen species
[ROS].

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 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I ,VARSHINI SHEKAR would like to take this opportunity and

express my gratitude towards all the people who were
instrumental to the making of this project and for their
nurturing support.

Firstly,I would like to thank my Principal Mrs. Anitha Bijesh

for giving me the opportunity to take up this project. I would
also like to extend my thanks to my biology teacher Mrs.
Sadhana Sharma for guiding me in my endeavours. She has
been my constant support in my entire project. I am ever
grateful to her for her patience and unconditional support.

Finally, I thank my peers and my parents for their unflagging

support and help through the decision making aspects of this
project.

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 INDEX

Sl. Content Pg.

No. no.
1. Introduction 6-12

2. Procedure 13

3. Observation 15

4. Result 17

5. Precautions 18

6. Sources of Error 1

7. Bibliography 12

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 INTRODUCTION
Catalase, an enzyme that catalyses the reaction by
which hydrogen peroxide is decomposed to water and oxygen.
It is found extensively in organisms that live in the presence of
oxygen as catalase prevents the accumulation of and protects
cellular organelles and tissues from damage by peroxide, which
is continuously produced by numerous metabolic reactions.
Catalase has various industrial applications. In the food
industry, it is used in combination with other enzymes in the
preservation of foodstuffs and in the manufacture of beverages
and certain food items. It is also used to remove the hydrogen
peroxide in contact lens manufacture. Commercial catalases
also are used to break down hydrogen peroxide in wastewater.
Cruciferous vegetables including broccoli,cabbage,kale,collard
and turnip greens,are rich in catalase.High intake of these
supplements stimulates the body’s production of catalase.

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Catalase is located in a cell organelle called the peroxisome.
Peroxisomes in plant cells are involved in photorespiration (the
use of oxygen and production of carbon dioxide) and symbiotic
nitrogen fixation (the breaking apart of the nitrogen molecule
N2 to reactive nitrogen atoms).
Hydrogen peroxide is produced as an intermediate during these
chemical processes and must be removed to prevent damage to
cellular machinery.

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Catalase, in this experiment, is obtained from green gram. The
filter paper dipped in the enzyme and rises to the top of the test
tube due to the oxygen bubbles produced.
The reaction is as follows:

Lack of catalase can have severe adverse

effects and impacts on animals and
cause several diseases

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Important Discoveries

Factors affecting the activity of enzyme:

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1.Time[Duration]

2.Catalysts

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The rate at which an enzyme works is influenced by several
factors including the concentration of substrate (hydrogen
peroxide in the case of catalase), temperature, pH,
salt concentration and the presence of inhibitors or activators.
Every enzyme has an optimal range for each of these factors.

3.Temperature

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4. Intensity

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The enzyme catalase functions based on Fischer’s Lock and
Key model.
The substrate (hydrogen peroxide) occupies the active sites in
the catalase enzyme. This forms a temporary intermediate
called the enzyme-substrate complex. This complex breaks
down to give the products (water and dioxygen).

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 PROCEDURE

• Sprouted green grams are crushed using a mortar and

pestle.
• The obtained paste is passed through a filter paper and the
enzyme is obtained in a watch glass kept below.
• Small discs of filter paper are punched out and dipped into
the filtrate.
• In three separate 100 mL beaker, pH tablets are added.
• 2 mL of this solution is added to a clean test tube.
• 10 mL of hydrogen peroxide is measured and added to the
same test tube.

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• The soaked disc is placed on a gloved finger and the test
tube is inverted over it. The stopwatch is started.
• As soon as the disc reaches the top, the stopwatch is
stopped and the time is recorded.
• This process is repeated 5 times for the 3 different pH
conditions.

OBSERVATIONS

pH Time Period taken by paper disc Avg.

to reach the top of test tube value
(sec) (sec)

4 7.6 6.7 6.8 6.7 6.7 6.6

7 3.3 5.4 4.3 5.4 3.3 3.6

9.4 4.5 5.6 5.4 5.5 5.6 4.8

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 RESULT

The optimum pH for the action of catalase enzyme is 7.

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1.Liver and mitochondria catalase
activity:

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 PRECAUTIONS

➢ Hydrogen peroxide must be stored in a dark area as it

decomposes in the presence of light.
➢ The glove must be thick.
➢ Skin should not come in contact with the chemicals in the
test tube.
➢ The stopwatch readings must be taken with extreme
precision.

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 SOURCES OF ERROR
▪ The measurement of the peroxide and pH must be done
accurately.
▪ The green gram must be moist and sprouted.
▪ The stopwatch should stop as soon as the disc touches the
top.

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 BIBLIOGRAPHY

NCERT Biology textbook- Grade 11

https://images.app.goo.gl/DriuaJBCJJCS1S5BA

https://images.app.goo.gl/WTNYdPpmi7J9ozeT7

http://www.worthington-
biochem.com/introbiochem/effectsph.html

http://www.all-science-fair-
projects.com/science_fair_projects/105/901/69adbb37c02f0fb
4f8b674fbae189d9f.html

https://www.researchgate.net

https://www.mdpi.com

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