Abi Gawel
Wallace- 6
September 16, 2012
Aspect 1:
Background Information: Enzymes are catalysts, which speed up the rate at which chemical reactions occur. They are essential to life since, without them, the majority of biochemical reactions would occur too slowly for living organisms to survive. This is interesting because you are able to inorganically speed up processes. It is important to know how to do this so you are able to see a result in a short amount of period, thus being able to study it quicker. Enzymes are beneficial and harmful to the environment. Environmental hazard, like metals, often exert their effects on organisms by disabling them. On the other hand, enzymes are cleaning up the environment. The Novo Nordisk Company has discovered that adding an enzyme can reduce the amount of chlorine needed to bleach wood pulp in the manufacture of paper.
What effect does temperature (Celsius) have on the effectiveness of the enzyme catalase (mL of 3% solution) on potatoes? If the temperature (Celsius) of a hydrogen peroxide (3% solution) of the water surrounding the potato (0.76 g) is increased, then the gas (O) will be produced quicker.

Newton, David E. "Enzyme." Environmental Encyclopedia. Ed. Marci Bortman, Peter Brimblecombe, and Mary Ann Cunningham. 3rd ed. Vol. 1. Detroit: Gale, 2003. 519. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 18 Sep. 2012.
Aspect 2:
Independent:
* Temperature (Celsius) * Cold temperature (10 degrees Celsius) was achieved by using an ice bath. The temperature (23 degrees Celsius) was distilled water that had been sitting out at room temperature. The temperature (73 degrees Celsius) was achieved by putting it on a hot plate.
Dependent:
* Effectiveness of the catalase in the potato (0.76 g) * Looked to see if there are any signs of a chemical reaction taking place, like gas (oxygen) * Measured by the reaction time when gas is given off varying on the changes of temperature.
Controlled Variables: * Weight and shape of the potato (square, 0.76 g), pressure in the air, size of beaker (50 mL), type of potato, same water source (distilled), the amount of Hydrogen Peroxide (20 drops, 3% solution), forceps, knife, cutting board, scale, graduated cylinder (50 mL), hot plate, ice bath, stirring rod, eye dropper, thermometer (Celsius), stopwatch.
Aspect 3:
Materials:
* 1 pair of forceps * 1 knife * 1 cutting board * 1 scale (g) * 3 beakers (50 mL) * 3 square cut potatoes (0.76 g) * 1 graduated cylinder (50 mL) * Distilled water * 1 hot plate * Hydrogen peroxide (20 drops, 3% solution) * 1 stirring rod * 1 eye dropper * 1 thermometer (Celsius) * 1 stopwatch

Photograph:

Procedure: 1. On a cutting board, use a knife to cut out three