Enzyme Lab #2: The Effect of Temperature on Enzyme Activity
SWBIC Educational Resources >> Activities & Materials >> Enzyme Unit Plan >> LAB 2
Procedure:
After preparing and filtering a red potato, (as previously described) pour approximately 20 ml of the liquid into each of five test tubes, labeled A-E. The five test tubes should be placed in water baths at or near the following temperatures:
- 5 degrees Celsius
- 20 degrees Celsius
- 37 degrees Celsius
- 65 degrees Celsius
- 98 degrees Celsius
Now, set up five more test tubes, labeled A-E, in a test tube rack; to each, add 20 ml H2O2.
After each of the first five test tubes — containing the enzyme — have sat at their temperatures for at least ten minutes, dump their contents into the second set of test tubes. Make sure you dump the enzyme from A into the other A, B into B, C into C, etc.
After a minute or two, use a ruler to measure the height of the foam produced. Record these amounts.
Analysis:
- At which temperature was the enzyme most active? (Which one produced the most foam?)
- At which temperature was the enzyme least active?
- Construct a line or bar graph, temperature (x-axis) vs. foam height (y-axis).
- What does your graph say about enzyme activity? Be specific as to temperatures.
Conclusion:
Are enzymes equally effective at all temperatures? Explain your answer.
Developed for SWBIC by John Palmer, Gadsden High School.