Essay about Society: Oxygen and Hydrogen Peroxide Introduction

Submitted By bing55me
Words: 666
Pages: 3
Open Document
Effect of Catalase on Hydrogen Peroxide
Introduction:
Metabolism is the sum total of chemical reactions in the body that are necessary to the maintenance of life.
Enzymes are biological catalysts that can speed up, and control, chemical reactions that would otherwise virtually never occur at normal body temperature, 37°C. Thousands of chemical reactions are occurring in the human body every moment of life, and each of these reactions is controlled by a particular enzyme.
Enzymes are extremely efficient. Some of the chemical reactions that take place in the body produce toxic by-products, which must be quickly degraded or converted. For example, certain reactions in the liver produce hydrogen peroxide, which is extremely poisonous. Under the influence of an enzyme called catalase, the hydrogen peroxide is broken down into water and oxygen. Catalase acts quickly; one molecule of it can deal with six million molecules of hydrogen peroxide in one minute. This same reaction can be catalyzed by iron. However, to achieve the same speed there would need to be about six tons of iron.
Enzymes have five important properties that you should know:
1. They are always proteins.
2. They are specific in their action. Each enzyme controls one particular reaction, or type of reaction.
Thus sucrase degrades sucrose and only sucrose (table sugar).
3. They are not altered by the reaction. This means that an enzyme can be used repeatedly. It also means that enzymes appear neither in the reactants nor in the products of a chemical equation.
4. They are destroyed by heat. This is because enzymes are proteins, and all proteins are destroyed by heat. Destruction of protein by heat (or under any extreme conditions of pH or salt concentration) is called denaturation. 5. They are sensitive to pH. The term pH refers to the degree of acidity and alkalinity of a solution. Most intracellular enzymes work best in neutral conditions, i.e. conditions that are neither acidic nor alkaline.
In this experiment you will investigate the action of catalase, from a small piece of beef liver, on hydrogen peroxide, under varying conditions.
Procedure:
1.
Obtain 2 test tubes. Pour a 3% hydrogen peroxide solution into one of them to a depth of about 2 cm.
Caution: hydrogen peroxide is corrosive and can irritate the skin. Pour water into the other test tube to a depth of about 2 cm.
2.

Drop a small piece of liver into each test tube. Liver contains considerable catalase. Watch the reaction and record your observations in a data table.

3.

Repeat the experiment using a piece of liver which has been boiled for three minutes. Record your observations. Repeat the experiment
Show More

Related Documents: Essay about Society: Oxygen and Hydrogen Peroxide Introduction

Gram Positive Cocci Research Paper

I. Introduction In society, bacteria are closely monitored. One of the most common groups of scrutinized bacteria is gram-positive cocci. This type of bacteria is the predominant group that is found on skin. Some of these species include, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Enterococcus faecalis, and Streptococcus pyogenes. Normally these bacteria are harmless, but when given a nutritious competitive free environment, they can be dangerous; especially in patients that are immunocompromised…

Words 844 - Pages 4

Chem Module A Notes Essay

carbohydrate: high-energy compound of C, H and O. 6CO2(g) + 6H2O(l) + energy  C6H12O6(aq) + 6O2(g) Petroleum consists of cruide oil and natural gas, formed of remains of single-celled marine organisms. Quick burial, decay by bacteria without presence of oxygen, millions of years of heat and pressure caused by overlaying sediments convert to petroleum. Mixture of 300 hydrocarbons, sulfur and nitrogen compounds. The various Fractions from Crude Oil and their uses Carbon Compounds C forms many…

Words 9921 - Pages 40

Feasibility Study on Eco-Smart Dish Washing Liquid Essay

Maricar Claudette And Company Professor Oscar Pagulayan Adviser and College Dean TABLE OF CONTENTS Acknowledgement………………………………………………………………………………………………………………i Dedication…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………ii Chapter I: Introduction…………………………………………………………………………………………5 A.…

Words 12994 - Pages 52