YEAST AS CATALYST

LAB REPORT
PRESENTED BY
• OBRENCE, AELYN M.
• OGRIMAN, WELLA D.
• OLIVEROS, HEAVEN Y.
• ORULFO, MAGDALENE M.
• PAGUYO, KAREL C.

I. ABSTRACT
This lab report offers a finding about the chemical reaction involving yeast and
hydrogen peroxide. Yeast is a single-celled living organism known for its significant role
in making baked products rise. However, aside from bread baking, it is also used for beer
and wine making. When yeast reacts with sugar and starch, they are transformed through
fermentation into carbon dioxide and alcohol. On the other hand, hydrogen peroxide is a
chemical compound slightly more viscous than water and is formed of two hydrogen
atoms and two oxygen atoms. It is widely used as a mild antiseptic for the skin to prevent
infection in wounds.
Keywords: hydrogen peroxide, yeast, chemical reaction
II. INTRODUCTION
There are so many things in this universe that fascinate me and make me puzzled
about why they happen. Like why hydrogen peroxide creates a bubble reaction when
poured on an open wound? How does yeast make my “pandesal” rise up? All this time, I
thought that it could only be explained to me by the bread maker. Not until biochemistry
does.
Yeast is a one-celled fungus that can ferment carbohydrates, producing carbon
dioxide and alcohol. It contains enzymes that are able to break down the starch in the
flour into sugars. First using amylase to break down the starch to maltose, and then using
maltase to break down maltose into glucose. This glucose acts as food for the yeast,
which metabolizes it to produce carbon dioxide and ethanol. And that is how baked
product, like my “pandesal”, rise.
Hydrogen peroxide is a chemical compound with the formula H₂O₂. It is used regularly
as an oxidizer, bleaching agent, and antiseptic in a dilute solution in water for consumer
use. And if you are like me and wonder why it creates a bubble reaction when poured on
an open wound, it is because most of our cells contain an enzyme called catalase. So
then, when hydrogen peroxide is poured on an open wound, the catalase instantly
converts hydrogen peroxide into water and oxygen. After it breaks down the hydrogen
peroxide, it produces bubbles of gas and sometimes makes a hissing sound (called a
fizzing reaction), which is what we see on our skin.
But do you know that hydrogen peroxide doesn’t only react with our skin? and this
kind of chemical reaction could happen faster. This depends on catalyst. And this
experiment explains it, and how yeast and hydrogen peroxide react to each other.
III. METHODOLOGY
MATERIALS:
• Glass container
• Dry yeast
• 6% hydrogen peroxide
• Empty water bottle
• Warm water
• Dishwashing liquid
• Food color
PROCEDURES:
1.1 YEAST SOLUTION:

After, we need to stir So, here is the finish

First, empty a full Then add around 4 the solution for 30 product.
packet of dry yeast in tbsp of warm water or seconds or until the
a glass more. water and yeast are
mixed well.

This procedure may seem easy—well, it is, as long as you keep in mind that the given
water temperature is important to follow. Water is necessary for yeast fermentation and
reproduction. For us to activate dry yeast, we need to leave it in a glass of warm water.
It will begin to dissolve, and the yeast is activated. However, if the water you use is too
cold, the yeast won’t wake up, and if it’s too hot, the yeast will die.
 1.2 HYDROGEN PEROXIDE SOLUTION:

Prepare a water bottle Next is pour around Then add 1-2 tbsp of Close the water bottle
and a 120 mL of 100 ml of 6% dishwashing liquid to and then carefully swirl
hydrogen peroxide. hydrogen peroxide into the hydrogen peroxide to mix the detergent
the empty water bottle. in the water bottle. into the hydrogen
peroxide.

This is the chemical Combine the yeast After adding the food Next is add 4-6 drops
reaction of yeast when solution in the color, swirl the bottle of food color to the
added to hydrogen hydrogen peroxide to mix the food water bottle (any
peroxide. solution coloring into the color)
solution.
 IV. RESULT AND DISCUSSION:
.

After preparing the yeast solution and the hydrogen peroxide solution, pour the
yeast into the water bottle containing the hydrogen peroxide solution. The rapid chemical
reaction is noticeable, as evidenced by the formation of bubbles of oxygen gas after the
yeast was added.
To elaborate on what happens, let’s say that yeast serves as a catalyst for the
chemical reaction. Catalysts work by providing a place where reactants can come
together to react. And, even though it increases the rate of a chemical reaction, it doesn’t
make itself undergo any permanent chemical change. Yeast speeds up the hydrogen
peroxide's decomposition and forms oxygen gas (O2) and water (H2O). Then, the oxygen
gas forms bubbles, which usually escape from the liquid and pop quickly. So, by adding
dishwashing liquid, it provides additional surface tension, which causes the bubbles to
get trapped and create lots of foam. And add food coloring because Marc Jacob said that
"color is the finishing touch of everything". Why don’t we get colored foam?
And just as hydrogen peroxide reacts with our cells when poured into open wounds,
cells in yeast and other organisms contain an enzyme (which is a protein) called catalase.
Catalase is an oxidoreductase that is responsible for the decomposition of hydrogen
peroxide. Since hydrogen peroxide is a poison, catalase protects the cells from oxidative
damage by breaking it down very quickly. In that way, it maintains the optimum level of
the molecule in the cell, which is also essential for cellular signaling processes.
Amazingly, a single molecule of catalase can catalyze the breakdown of millions of
hydrogen peroxide molecules every second.
Furthermore, a change in temperature also implies a chemical reaction. In addition
to the formation of bubbles when the yeast separates the oxygen from the hydrogen
peroxide, energy is also released into the surrounding environment (exothermic reaction).
This means that the chemical reaction releases heat as it occurs. Causing the outside of
the container to feel warm as you touch it.
REFERENCES:

• LINK OF OUR EXPERIMENT VIDEO:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1yNLgA4T3eydSIRU883HbVNFKYcdPSn67/view?usp=
drivesdk
• https://greatist.com/eat/how-to-activate-yeast#activating-different-types
• https://www.acs.org/education/whatischemistry/adventures-in-
chemistry/experiments/heat-up-cool-
reactions.html#:~:text=When%20yeast%20was%20added%20to,the%20tempera
ture%20to%20go%20up