normal catalase reaction To begin with, catalase is an enzyme that breaks down hydrogen peroxide into oxygen and water. For our normal catalase reaction, we used beef liver (1x1 inch) and 2mL of 3% hydrogen peroxide. When we added the H2O2 to the liver in the test tube, it instantly started to bubble and become warm, meaning it is exothermic (exergonic). The bubbling that occurred told us right away that there was a catalase reaction going on. As you already know, the catalase is trying to break down the H2O2, so this is its way of doing so.
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determining reaction rate and reaction rate for a normal reaction To determine the reaction rate, you base the rate of the reaction on how long it takes. The rating of the reactions ranges from 0 - 5. (0 being none and 5 being the fastest.)
For our normal catalase reaction, we added H2O2 to the liver. The solution bubbled for about 12 seconds, which we estimated it to be a reaction rate of 3. |
what are the reactants? What are products?
To start off, you'd probably like to know what reactants and products are. Reactants are substances that are present before a chemical change takes place. Products are substances that are formed during the chemical change. The reactants in our lab for this section would be the beef liver and H2O2. When you add those two together, the chemical reaction begins by releasing the gas, which is a water and oxygen gas (2H20+O2). That means, the product would be the gas that's being released. This is shown by the bubbling effect right after adding H2O2. A by-product of this experiment would be the heat that's being generated. This is because the reactants are being broken down into products, creating a chemical reaction which gives off heat.
is catalase reusable?
Test tube 1: H2O2 and Liver
Test tube 2: used H2O2 and new Liver
Test tube 3: H2O2 and used Liver
By pouring out the used H2O2 from our first test tube into our second test tube, we examined that there was no reaction. That means the reaction rate was zero, proving enzymes are not reusable. Although we proved that enzymes are not reusable, it doesn't mean catalase isn't reusable. Reusing the liver from our first test tube, we added 2mL of H2O2 to the third test tube. This will show us if catalase is in fact reusable. When we added the H2O2 to the liver, it again started to bubble. It didn't react as rapidly as it did the first time, but it still bubbled. The reaction rate in the third test tube was only a reaction rate of 2, meaning the chemical reaction was slower than the chemical reaction in our first test tube. The bubbling, or release of gasses, proves to us that yes, catalase is reusable.
Test tube 2: used H2O2 and new Liver
Test tube 3: H2O2 and used Liver
By pouring out the used H2O2 from our first test tube into our second test tube, we examined that there was no reaction. That means the reaction rate was zero, proving enzymes are not reusable. Although we proved that enzymes are not reusable, it doesn't mean catalase isn't reusable. Reusing the liver from our first test tube, we added 2mL of H2O2 to the third test tube. This will show us if catalase is in fact reusable. When we added the H2O2 to the liver, it again started to bubble. It didn't react as rapidly as it did the first time, but it still bubbled. The reaction rate in the third test tube was only a reaction rate of 2, meaning the chemical reaction was slower than the chemical reaction in our first test tube. The bubbling, or release of gasses, proves to us that yes, catalase is reusable.