Hydrogen peroxide Essay Example

Hydrogen peroxide Paper Catalase is an enzyme found in the cells of many organisms, both plants and animals. It speeds up the breakdown of hydrogen peroxide (a highly toxic chemical produced in small quantities in cells as a by-product of metabolism) to water and oxygen. I was asked to investigate the effect of one factor on the rate at which catalase works. I will be using celery as the source of the catalase. Planning Enzymes are biological catalysts. They are produced in all living organisms and control all the chemical reactions that occur. There are 4 things that can affect the rate of the chemical reaction: temperature, pH, concentration of substrate and concentration of enzyme. When the temperature increases, the rate of reaction will increase because as the temperature is higher, the kinetic energy of the particles increases, then more pairs of particles will have enough energy between them to collide successfully. Also, because heat is given, it provide another source of energy to get the reaction started, so that enough molecules reach the activation energy and collide successfully which cause the reaction rate to increase. But if the temperature is too high (above 50 c), the enzyme will denature and stop working because the shapes of the enzymes can no longer combine with the substances. Any change in pH affects the ionic and hydrogen bonding in an enzyme and alters its shape. Extremes of pH will denature some enzymes. Each enzyme has an optimum pH at which its active site best fits the substrate. But most enzymes will work best in neutral condition (pH 7). When there is an excess of enzyme molecules, an increase in the substrate concentration, produces a corresponding increase in the rate of reaction. We will write a custom essay sample on Hydrogen peroxide specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Hydrogen peroxide specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Hydrogen peroxide specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer If there is an excess substrate, an increase in enzyme concentration will lead to a corresponding increase in rate of reaction. Concentration of substrate or enzyme increases, the greater the rate of reaction will be because higher concentration means a higher number of particles in a given volume. If there are more particles, there will be more reaction. More reaction means a larger number of successful collisions. Therefore the reaction rate will increase. But if the substrate is in short supply, an increase in enzyme concentration has no effect. Or if there are sufficient substrate molecules, the rate of reaction is unaffected by further increases in substrate concentration as the enzymes are unable to break down the greater quantity of substrate. I think I am going to design an experiment to investigate the effect of concentration of substrate on the rate of the reaction. The experiment is going to be how can the concentration of the hydrogen peroxide affects the rate of catalase reaction. I predict as the concentration of the hydrogen peroxide increases, the rate of catalase reaction will increase. This is because higher concentration means there is a higher number of particles in a given volume. If there are more particles, there will be a bigger chance of reaction occurring. Bigger chance of reaction occurring means a bigger chance of successful collisions. Therefore the reaction rate will increase. To find out whether when prediction is right, I am going to do an experiment. Preliminary experiment For my experiment, I will need: A 50cm conical flask with a bung A burette Container Delivery tube Clamps and stand 10cm measuring cylinder A stopwatch 20 vol of hydrogen peroxide celery juice (catalase) Safety control I have to make sure all the school bags and chairs are under the table, in case I trip over I have to wear goggles, prevent any accidents that can damage my eyes I have to make sure I handle all the glassware carefully I have to handle the hydrogen peroxide very carefully because it is very toxic Method 1. Set up the experiment according to the diagram 2. Measure 10 cm of catalase (celery juice) 3. Measure 10 cm of Hydrogen Peroxide 4. Pour the catalase into the conical flask 5. Fill the burette with water 6. Pour the hydrogen peroxide into the conical flask and close the bung and start the timer 7. Record the volume of gas given off every 10 seconds (10s, 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s and 70s) 8. Mix hydrogen peroxide with pure water to give the following percentage of concentration of acid: 100%, 80%, 60%, 40% and 20% 9. Repeat 1 8 using the 100%, 80%, 60%, 40% and 20% hydrogen peroxide 10. Repeat the whole experiment twice to get a more accurate result Diagram Results Time (seconds) Volume of gas collected when there is 100% of H O (cm ). Volume of gas collected when there is 60% of H O (cm ) Volume of gas collected when there is 40% of H O (cm ) Volume of gas collected when there is 20% of H O (cm )Â   The results show that I have used the right amount of catalase and hydrogen peroxide as the volume of gas given off at a rate that is not too quick. Also, the apparatus I chose are appropriate which can give me a precise result. I will repeat the experiment three times to give a more reliable result. I will make sure the test is fair by: 1) Checking whether I have too many catalase or hydrogen peroxide because this will affect the concentration of the substrate 2) Using the same celery each time to get the catalase because different celery may contain different amount of catalase which will then affect the concentration of enzyme 3) Putting the bung on as quickly as possible in case any gas leak out which will affect the accuracy of the experiment 4) Varying the concentration of substrate only each time, or else the results will not be reliable. 5) Making sure the temperature remains constant as it will affect the rate of reaction. When temperature increases, the rate of reaction will increase 6) Making sure the pH remains constant as it will affect the enzyme. The enzyme works best at pH 7 Now I am going to plan my experiment again to get a more reliable and accurate result. Apparatus A 50cm conical flask with a bung A burette Clamps and stand Delivery tube Container 10cm measuring cylinder A stopwatch 20 vol of hydrogen peroxide Celery juice (catalase) Safety control I have to make sure all the school bags and chairs are under the table, in case I trip over.