An experiment was conducted to investigate catalase activity vs.

temperature in potato
samples.

Potato was cut into 1cm x 1cm x 1cm cubes and thoroughly dried. The potato samples were
then added into boiling tubes containing 3cm³ of hydrogen peroxide. 5 different temperatures
were investigated: 20°C, 30°C, 40°C, 50°C, 60°C. A potato cube was also added to an empty
boiling tube.

Catalase (will break down nasty hydrogen peroxide into harmless water and oxygen)
Hydrogen peroxide → Water + Oxygen
(2H2O2 → 2H2O + O2)

(The foam that appears on top of the test tube is oxygen. More foam = more of a chemical
reaction = more catalase activity)

The samples were left untouched for 5 minutes for the reaction to occur, and then the height of
the foam at the top of each boiling tube was measured (3 measurements were taken per tube
and an average was calculated). The heights were then recorded and plotted onto a graph for
comparison.

1. State the dependent variable of the experiment

DV = height of foam (cm) [what we measure]

2. State the independent variable of the experiment

IV = temperature of hydrogen peroxide (°C) [what we change in order to see the DV change]

20°C - less foam (less kinetic energy = less collisions between substrate and enzyme)
30°C - a good amount of foam
40°C - most foam produced (closest to optimum temperature)
50°C - less foam than 40°C (as enzymes are starting to denature)
60°C - not much foam at all, majority of enzyme denatured

3. State 3 control variables included in the description of the experiment

Size of potato (1cm cubed)

3cm³ hydrogen peroxide
Duration (5 minutes for the reaction to occur per temperature)
Potato - dried before adding hydrogen peroxide
4. State 3 other control variables that would help ensure validity

Room temperature
Variety of potato / same potato
Ensure precise temperature before adding potato (use a water bath)
Concentration of hydrogen peroxide
Size of test tube

5. Which gas was found in the foam, measured at the top of each boiling tube?

Oxygen

6. Identify 3 possible sources of error in this experiment

Potato - was cut into cubes, could be inaccurate (could have used a corer)
Parallax - must measure from eye level so that the ruler lines up properly
Foam - contains oxygen, could have escaped (use a seal, cotton wool, mesh?)

[Control variables = ensure validity and fair test]

7. State one procedure within the experiment that helped ensure reliability

The foam height measurement was taken 3 times and a mean was calculated

8. State another procedure that would further help ensure reliability (repeatable results)

Repeat the experiment 3-5 times and take averages