Enzymatic Activity - Lab Report Example

A lab report Lab Report Introduction In this experiment, the main question is the functions and importance of proteins. This happens to be the main hypothesis. Proteins that speed up the rate of chemical reactions in a stomach are called enzymes and they are also proteins. On the other hand, hydrogen peroxide is a metabolism byproduct that can damage cells if not taken care of by removing. It is good to keep in mind that a catalyst is a substance that lowers the activation energy needed for a chemical reaction to take place.

Above are the main materials used in this experiment where the main method is experimenting for data collection and analysis.The purpose of the above named experiment is determination of whether the breakdown of hydrogen peroxide is endothermic or exothermic reaction. The experiment is mainly testing two substances. The two different substances are potatoes and meat and preferably beef liver for the purposes of discerning whether there is maintaining breakdown involving different materials.

In such an experiment, an exothermic reaction is all about releasing heat energy where there is higher temperature than the initial whereas an endothermic reaction is all about absorption of heat energy and in this case the energy in subject is lower than the initial. Also in this experiment there is Catalase which is a biological enzyme, yeast which showed bubbling. This is similar to the many proteins employed by the human body and used to help in breaking down hydrogen peroxide into oxygen and water through lowering the reaction activation energy.

The very substance in subject accelerates chemical reactions but permanently changes or gets used up in the process. It has not yet been proven whether both the liver and the potato contain any Catalase in them. The hypothesis was supported because the liver is a meat while potato is a starch thus both affect how the entire process works in breaking the substances. Several things could be done to improve the experiment including keeping the test tubes much further apart from each other for the purposes of preventing any possible mixing.

The second way is keeping every starting temperature constant. As the data shows, tests were started at different temperatures thus not reliable. The third thing is making sure that the thermometers are wiped after every measurement and after every stirring to prevent any possible mixing. The last recommendation would be conducting the experiment in an enclosed space to get better results. ResultsExperiment 1Table 1 values of absorbance for p-Nitrophenol standardsStandard cuvetteAmount of p-nitrophenol (nmol)Absorbance at 410 nmS100.00S212.50.235S2250.459S4500.918S51001.89 Table 2 showing results from experiment 1- reaction rateTime (minutes)cuvetteAbsorbance measured at 410nm0start0.0378end0.0771E10.3822E20.7314E31.1166E41.5038E52.

373Table 3 showing the results from experiment 2- temperaturetemperatureAbsorbance at 410nm0 degrees0.10822 degrees (room temperature)0.32737 degrees1. 59080 degrees0.096Table 2 showing the results from experiments 3 – PHPHAbsorbance at 410 nmPH 3.00.766PH 5.00.715pH6.30.167pH8.60.027 Table 5 showing the results from experiment 4 –substrate concentrationcuvetteAbsorbance at 410nmHS10.396HS20.743HS31.875LS10.215LS20.234LS30.574Experiment 2The results in the second experiment do not vary much from the previous experiment only that there is time is some instances for example during the reaction rate, there is the end and start time which is in minutes.

During the same experiment, the cuvette had contained catechol and the enzyme got a replacement in the 60th degree thus showing the greatest absorbance. It was notted that the higher the temperatures, the more the enzymatic activity. In the cofactor procedure, the PTU differed with the EDTA where the previous showed the smallest amount in increase regarding measurements while the latter appeared to have inhibited the enzyme reaction unlike the previous one. DiscussionThe hypothesis that the cuvette with both enzyme and catechol solution got placed in the 37 degree water.

After adding the water, the solution formed requires filtration where after the solution is safely stored in a container. In conclusion, Several things could be done to improve the experiment including keeping the test tubes much further apart from each other for the purposes of preventing any possible mixing. The second way is keeping every starting temperature constant. As the data shows, tests were started at different temperatures thus not reliable. The third thing is making sure that the thermometers are wiped after every measurement and after every stirring to prevent any possible mixing.

The last recommendation would be conducting the experiment in an enclosed space to get better results.ReferencesClapper, A. (2007). The effect of temperature and chellating agents oncatechol oxidastion. Journal, section 403.Alysen, B., Patching, R., Oakman, K.M. & Sedorkin, G. (2003). Reporting in a multimedia world. Allen and Unwin, Crows Nest: NSW.World Health Organization. (2003). Global Strategy on Diet, Physical Activity, and Health, viewed 10 October 2012,