Catylization of Hydrogen Peroxide With Liver Enzymes by Audrey Salmon https://padlet.com/audrey_b_salmon/miflwr7frm38 A study of catalase enzymes en-us 2018-02-22 02:35:13 UTC 2023-03-01 00:29:13 UTC hello@padlet.com Purpose audrey_b_salmon https://padlet.com/audrey_b_salmon/miflwr7frm38/wish/234063826 The purpose of this experiment is to showcase how enzymes react by showing liver enzymes reacting with hydrogen peroxide.]]> 2018-02-22 02:40:11 UTC https://padlet.com/audrey_b_salmon/miflwr7frm38/wish/234063826 Introduction audrey_b_salmon https://padlet.com/audrey_b_salmon/miflwr7frm38/wish/234063875 Hydrogen peroxide is produced in many different processes throughout the body, but, unfortunately, it is also poisonous. Therefore, there is an enzyme in the liver called catalase that breaks down hydrogen peroxide, producing a combination of oxygen gas and liquid water. This process shows how enzymes react with substrates to break them down and create other substances.

]]> 2018-02-22 02:40:33 UTC https://padlet.com/audrey_b_salmon/miflwr7frm38/wish/234063875 Materials audrey_b_salmon https://padlet.com/audrey_b_salmon/miflwr7frm38/wish/234063965
  • 5 test tubes
  • Water
  • Pieces of liver 
  • Hydrogen peroxide
  • Toothpicks (to light on fire)
  • A lighter
  • A bunsen burner

    • ]]>     2018-02-22 02:41:17 UTC https://padlet.com/audrey_b_salmon/miflwr7frm38/wish/234063965     Procedure 1 audrey_b_salmon https://padlet.com/audrey_b_salmon/miflwr7frm38/wish/234064001
  • Place five test tubes in a row.
  • In  the first test tube, pour around two inches of water.
  • Place a piece of liver in the first test tube. Nothing should happen, since the liver enzymes do not react with water.

    • ]]>     2018-02-22 02:41:40 UTC https://padlet.com/audrey_b_salmon/miflwr7frm38/wish/234064001     Procedure 2 audrey_b_salmon https://padlet.com/audrey_b_salmon/miflwr7frm38/wish/234064462
  • In the second test tube, pour around two inches of hydrogen peroxide.
  • Place a piece of liver in the second test tube. This should create a reaction that causes bubbles, due to the enzyme reacting with the hydrogen peroxide.

    • ]]>     2018-02-22 02:44:50 UTC https://padlet.com/audrey_b_salmon/miflwr7frm38/wish/234064462     Procedure 3 audrey_b_salmon https://padlet.com/audrey_b_salmon/miflwr7frm38/wish/234064654
  • Pour hydrogen peroxide in the third test tube.
  • Light a toothpick on fire, let it burn for around 6 seconds, and then blow it out to create an ember at the end.
  • Dip the toothpick into the hydrogen peroxide. Nothing should happen, because hydrogen peroxide is not flammable.

    • ]]>     2018-02-22 02:46:12 UTC https://padlet.com/audrey_b_salmon/miflwr7frm38/wish/234064654     Procedure 4 audrey_b_salmon https://padlet.com/audrey_b_salmon/miflwr7frm38/wish/234064774
  • In the fourth test tube, pour around two inches of hydrogen peroxide.
  • Place a piece of liver in the second test tube, to create a reaction.
  •  Light a toothpick on fire, let it burn for around 6 seconds, and then blow it out to create an ember.
  • Touch the bubbles at the top of the test tube with the end of the toothpick. The toothpick should light on fire again, because oxygen is flammable.

    • ]]>     2018-02-22 02:47:10 UTC https://padlet.com/audrey_b_salmon/miflwr7frm38/wish/234064774     Procedure 5 audrey_b_salmon https://padlet.com/audrey_b_salmon/miflwr7frm38/wish/234064984
  • Put water and a liver in the fifth test tube.
  •  Boil the water in the test tube for a while.
  •  Put hydrogen peroxide into the test tube with the boiled liver. If you boiled the liver long enough, the peroxide should not react due to denaturation.

    • ]]>     2018-02-22 02:48:33 UTC https://padlet.com/audrey_b_salmon/miflwr7frm38/wish/234064984     Results audrey_b_salmon https://padlet.com/audrey_b_salmon/miflwr7frm38/wish/234065584 2018-02-22 02:53:26 UTC https://padlet.com/audrey_b_salmon/miflwr7frm38/wish/234065584 Discussion audrey_b_salmon https://padlet.com/audrey_b_salmon/miflwr7frm38/wish/234065832 Enzymes are a type of protein that carry out chemical reactions in cells and all living things. Each enzyme has a specific shape, and depending on the shape, it acts as a catalyst for a different chemical reaction. Each enzyme can only be a catalyst for one specific chemical reaction. They initiate chemical reactions by either breaking down or bonding atoms. Enzymes are crucial to the function of cells.
    In Test Tube 2, when hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) was added to the liver, oxygen gas (O2) and liquid water (H20) were created. Because hydrogen peroxide is H2O2, the enzymes in the liver (these specific ones are called catalase) break it down to create water and oxygen.
    In Test Tube 4, the red hot wood was set on fire when touched to the reaction. This flame is due to the the flammable properties of oxygen - because the reaction creates a lot of oxygen gas, when the gas touches the ember at the end of the wood, it lights it on fire.
    In Test Tube 5, when the liver was boiled, this caused it to not be able to react with hydrogen peroxide. This is due to a process called denaturation, where excessive heat warps and changes the shape and structure of an enzyme. Because the shape of the enzyme is very important to how it reacts with hydrogen peroxide, being exposed to a lot of heat causes the shape of the enzyme to change and thus, it no longer reacts with peroxide.
    ]]>     2018-02-22 02:55:27 UTC https://padlet.com/audrey_b_salmon/miflwr7frm38/wish/234065832     Conclusion audrey_b_salmon https://padlet.com/audrey_b_salmon/miflwr7frm38/wish/234065878 In conclusion, enzymes are a crucial part of cells and our body. They facilitate and act as catalysts for chemical reactions, by either breaking down or bonding molecules. When the enzyme catalase, which is found in the liver, reacts with hydrogen peroxide, it creates oxygen gas and liquid water. This is useful for getting rid of peroxide, since it is poisonous. However, when enzymes like catalase are heated up, they denature - they change their shape. This means that they can no longer be used for reactions. 

    ]]>     2018-02-22 02:55:47 UTC https://padlet.com/audrey_b_salmon/miflwr7frm38/wish/234065878