Lab Practical #1 - What determines metabolic reaction rates?: Exercise #3

What is a product?

The elements or compounds produced by a chemical reaction.

What is an active site?

a region on an enzyme that binds to a protein or other substance during a reaction.

What is an enzyme?

a substance produced by a living organism that acts as a catalyst to bring about a specific biochemical reaction.

What is the effect of pH on catalase activity?

If pH level is lower than 7 or higher than 11, the enzyme becomes denatured and loses its structure. The liver sustains a neutral pH of about 7, which creates the best environment for catalase and other enzymes

What is a spectrophotometry and how was it used in this exercise?

a method to measure how much a chemical substance absorbs light by measuring the intensity of light as a beam of light passes through a sample solution.

what is a substrate?

the substance on which an enzyme acts

What is the effect of temperature on catalase activity?

As the temperature increases towards the optimum point, hydrogen bonds loosen, making it easier for catalase to act on hydrogen peroxide molecules. If the temperature increases beyond the optimum point, the enzyme denatures and its structure is disrupted

For our lab experiments, what served as the enzyme? What was the substrate? What was the product?

Enzyme: Catalase from turnip extract Substrate: Hydrogen Peroxide Product: Water and Oxygen

What is the purpose of a "blank" in spectrophotometry?

For a constant neutral measurment

How is guaiacol used as an indicator solution and what was being measured in this spectrophotometer?

Guaiacol was used as an indicator solution which reacts with products

What does it mean to denature an enzyme?

Means the tertiary shape becomes damaged and so it does not function well.