Kaylyn Galie

Mr. Minton
Academic Biology
Fall 2013- Block 2
Title: The Effect of pH on Catalase Function
Abstract:
An enzyme is a protein molecule. The purpose of an enzyme is to speed up reactions in the cell.
Enzymes are reusable and are like a lock and key. They are like a lock and key because the key is like the
substrate and the lock is like the enzyme. Due to their correct fit together, they will create a reaction.
Therefore, the lock and key analogy applies to how an enzyme is like a lock and key. Three factors that
affect the function of an enzyme are temperature, pH, and substrate concentration. One can tell if a
substance is an enzyme by looking to see if the name ends with -ase.
Problem: How does pH effect the enzyme catalase?
Hypothesis: If the pH is above 7 (a base), then the height of the bubbles produced from the reaction will
be higher.
Methods and Materials: Chicken livers (4), test tubes (4), metric ruler, Buffer Solutions (pH 4, 7 and 10),
graduated cylinder, and hydrogen peroxide. (Refer to the lab worksheet)
Data:
Table 1: Buffer Solutions and Height of Bubbles Produced from Reaction in Centimeters
Buffer Solutions
pH 4 (Red)
pH 7 (Yellow)
pH 10 (Lavender)

Height of Bubbles Produced from Reaction in

Centimeters
.5 cm.
2 cm.
8.5 cm.

Graph 1: Buffer Solutions and Height of Bubbles

Produced
Height of Bubbles Produced in
Centimeters

9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
pH 4 (Red)

pH 7 (Yellow)

Buffer Solutions

pH 10 (Lavender)

Kaylyn Galie
Mr. Minton
Academic Biology
Fall 2013- Block 2
Conclusion:
The enzyme used in the lab was the enzyme Catalase. This enzyme is very commonly found in
living things. The chemical reaction this enzyme helps to occur is the chemical reaction where it converts
hydrogen peroxide into water and oxygen. The reactant is the hydrogen peroxide and the products are
water and oxygen. The liquid that was left in the test tube after it stopped fizzing was water and the gas
that was being released was the oxygen.
The pH that the enzyme worked best at was pH 10 (Lavender). The pH that the enzyme was the
worst at was pH 4 (Red). This shows that substances with a pH of a base ranging from 7.1-14 works best
with enzyme activity. This enzyme will not work very well in a very acidic environment.
One error that could have possibly occurred during the experiment could be that maybe the
height of the bubbles wasnt measured correctly, which could possibly throw off the results of the
experiment. An idea for further study on this enzyme could be to test more pH solutions to see what the
highest height and the lowest height of the bubbles could be, furthering the understanding of this
enzyme.