Measuring the effect of concentration on initial rate of reaction This experiment uses the breakdown of hydrogen peroxide into

oxygen and water. The rate of this reaction is increased by the addition of the enzyme catalase and this fact can be used to investigate the concentration of an enzyme on the rate of initial reaction. Method: 1) Make up six different concentrations of the enzyme or potato extract (made using pH buffer) by diluting with water 2) Set up equipment as shown in figure 1 3) Place 10cm3 of the enzyme in the conical flask 4) Measure 10cm3 of hydrogen peroxide into the syringe and add to the enzyme solution 5) Using the gas collection tube measure the volume of oxygen produced in 60s 6) Plot the volume of oxygen produced (cm3) against concentration (%) of enzyme on a graph 5) Repeat with the different concentrations of enzyme

Figure 1 Explanation: Increased concentration means more enzyme molecules to collide with substrate so more enzyme-substrates complexes form, meaning increased rate of reaction. However: there is a limited amount of substrate so there will be a point where there are more enzyme molecules than substrate and at this point increasing the concentration will have no further effect. Control variables: PH buffer, temperature water bath, time of reaction stopwatch, volume of enzyme measuring cylinder/syringe, type of enzyme same batch of enzyme and concentration of hydrogen peroxide same batch/bottle.