Research Question: Is there an enzyme (catalase) in the potato?

1. What were your independent, dependent, and controlled variables?

A. Independent variable: Time
Dependent variable: Weight of the potato
Controlled variable: Temperature
2. Design a logical, complete and safe method and selects appropriate materials and
equipment.
A. Materials: 2 test tubes, timer, potato, hydrogen peroxide, weighing machine.
Procedure:
1.Take the potato and cut the potato in half then cut it until it becomes as small as a test
tubes mouth and then cut it again into very small pieces like 5 pieces should fit into the the
test tubes mouth and then take the second test tube and attach it to a stand so that its
weight is visible upon the weighing machine and then press the tare button and add the
potatoes and then add the hydrogen peroxide until the hydrogen peroxide is above the
potatoes and immediately start the timer and check the weight every 2 minutes for 10
minutes.

3. How did you ensure the reliability of the experiment?

A. ensured the reliability of the experiment by keeping my controlled variable constant and
also checking the weight every 2 minutes using a timer.

4. What were the values of your dependent variable?

A.
0 MIN:17.8
2 MIN:17.5
4 MIN:17.1
6 MIN:16.7
8 MIN:16.4
10 MIN:16.2

5. Accurately interpret your data and explain your results using correct scientific reasoning.

A.Catalase is an enzyme present in almost all living organisms. This is because it is essential
to the cell to protect against oxidative stress due to H2O2
which is produced in small quantities during the normal metabolic activity of the body.
H2O2 is a really reactive species and can damage cells and tissues by oxidizing
them. The significance of catalase is that it catalyzes the decomposition of H2O2 into less
reactive oxygen and water. This is why the potato loses weight when hydrogen peroxide
is added(they lose weight as the reaction changes the enzyme into oxygen and water
which means some of its mass is converted into oxygen and water) The chemical formula is:
2H2O2—>2H2O+O2
6. Evaluate the validity of the hypothesis based on the outcome of the investigation.

A. My hypothesis is that the substrate(Hydrogen-Peroxide) will react with the

enzyme(Catalase) in the potato to release oxidative stress, due to this reaction the Mass of
the
potato will be transformed into water and oxygen so the weight will reduce. As per the
results, the weight was reduced so my hypothesis was correct.

Improvements:
We could have cut identical pieces in a potato and and measured them and also have
measured the hydrogen peroxide than putting it until the liquid is above the potatoes.