EssayClub.com - Free College Essays and Term Papers

Ms.

Amylase Investigation

Research Question: Does a temperature change, affect the time taken for the enzyme amylase when it breaks down a polysaccharide, starch, to maltose?

Hypothesis: I predict, that as the temperature increases, the rate of reaction for the amylase to break down starch to maltose and become transparent in colour will increase as well. However at a certain temperature the amylase will denature and the enzyme would stop working. Therefore, I also expect the reaction rate to decrease as the temperature decreases.
I came to this prediction since when liquid is heated; the particles in it are given more kinetic energy. Consequently both enzyme and substrate molecules move around faster at higher temperatures, which means there is a larger chance of a substrate molecule colliding with the active site of the enzyme. Hence the enzyme activity therefore increases. Another reason for this hypothesis is, that when enzymes are heated, bonds in the enzyme vibrate more and the chance of bonds breaking is increased. When bonds in the enzyme break, the structure of the enzyme changes as well as the active site. It denatures. As more and more enzyme molecules in a solution become denatured, enzyme activity falls. Eventually it stops altogether, once the enzyme has completely denatured. This is shown on the graph showing temperature and enzyme activity.

Variables: Independent – I am going to change the temperature of the amylase-starch solution. I will use the following temperatures: 10°C, 20°C (room temperature), 30°C, 40°C, 50°C and 60°C. The temperature will be decreased through the use of ice. There will be water baths set at 30°C, 40°C, 50°C and 60°C for me to test the enzyme activity at these temperatures. I will make sure the amylase-starch solution is at the desired temperature using a thermometer.
Dependent – The time taken for the amylase to break down the starch, so the solution turns transparent*, at the various temperatures mentioned in the...