Organic Reactions

Researcher:
Louvelle M. Naredo
11 – St. Uriel
 B. Polymerization
a. Objective
b. Materials
c. Procedure
d. Results
e. Conclusion
f. Question

Enzyme Action
Table of Contents
I.Objective

A. Enzyme Action................... 1 Enzymes are biological molecules (typically

a. Objective................... 1 proteins) that significantly speed up the rate of
b. Materials..... ............. 2 virtually all of the chemical reactions that take
c. Procedure..... ............. 3 place within cells.
d. Results..................... 6
e. Conclusion To better understand how enzymes work, the
f. Question research’s objective for this experiment is to
observe how enzymes take action in organic reactions
by using the hardening of gelatine in different
situations as the visual presentation of the
action.

The experiment would require the use of fruits Figure 1 Materials for this experiment
specifically grapes and papaya. The main focus of
this experiment is the papaya fruit because it has
been studied countless of times by other scientists
because of its so-called powerful enzyme called
papain. So by the end of this experiment, we will
observe the enzyme action that will take place. III.Procedure

Step 1: Prepare separate purees of the papaya

and grapes. Make sure that the peeling and seeds are
removed before homogenizing the fruit in the
II.Materials blender.

In this experiment, the researcher used the

following materials:
 Gelatine powder (unflavored)
 Ripe papaya
 Hard candy
 Grapes
 3 medium-sized bowls
 Blender
 Graduated cylinder
 Refrigerator
 Egg beater
 Tablespoons
Figure 3 Preparing ingredients
Figure 2 Pureeing/Blending the fruits (papaya)
 Figure 10 Mixing gelatine powder
in grape puree

Step 2: Measure about 100 mL of each purée and

transfer separately into two bowls.

Step 4: In the third

bowl, put a piece of the
hard candy and add about 50
mL of papaya puree. Observe
and record what happens to
the candy.

Figure 11 Adding hard candy

Figure 6 Pouring papaya puree Figure 7 Pouring grape puree to a bowl of papaya puree
into bowl into bowl

Step 5: Refrigerate (but do not freeze) the

puree-gelatine mixtures and check on them the next
day. Take note of the consistency of the mixtures.
Step 3: Add 2 tbsp of
gelatine powder into each
bowl. Mix the contents
thoroughly using an egg
beater.

Figure 8 Adding gelatine

powder before mixing it

Figure 12 Putting the mixtures Figure 13 The mixtures in the

in the refrigerator refrigerator

Figure 9 Mixing gekatine powder in

IV.Results How is Enzyme Action evidenced in the activity?

In the activity, the researcher observed that

Sample Observation(s) the gelatine formed faster in the pureed papaya
Papaya Puree + The mixture turned into fruit and that the candy melted faster in the same
Gelatine gelatine pureed fruit meaning the fruit contains enzymes. So
the enzyme action is evident in the gelatine and
Grape Puree + The mixture stayed the candy submerged in the papaya puree since the
Gelatine same reactions seems to increase in rate in such
Papaya Puree + The candy melted situations.
Candy
The results of the experiments were gathered at
exactly one day after the researcher conducted the
activity.

V.Conclusion
At the end of this experiment, the researcher
concluded that the papaya fruit is rich in enzymes
POLYMERIZATION
because it increases the rate of the formation of
the gelatine and the melting of the hard candy.
Although science has found that grapes also contain
enzymes, those enzymes are nothing in comparison I. Objective
with papaya’s enzyme called papain. Papain is so
potent that it is used as the active ingredient in 'Polymer' comes from the Greek, meaning 'many
some prescribed ointments or medical aids. This parts.' A polymer is a long molecule consisting of
experiment just show how powerful that enzyme is many identical or similar building blocks linked by
seeing how the gelatine was formed in just a day covalent bonds - like how a train consists of a
when it can take more than that and how the whole chain of cars. Most large molecules, or
hard candy was melted. That is how enzymes work; it macromolecules, are polymers. The repeating units
speeds up the process of reaction or the products. that serve as the building blocks of a polymer are
small molecules called monomers.
VI.Questions
 The researcher’s objective for this experiment  Cornstarch
is to not only to teach and show the readers how  Glue
certain organic compounds react in making polymer  Lemon juice
clay such as polymerization and enzyme action, but
also to help the marginalized to gain information  Baby oil
and possibly a new source of income in crafts work  Mixing bowl
using self-made polymer clay.  Spatula

Ratio: ½ cup Cornstarch : 4 ounces Glue : ½ tbsp

Lemon juice : ½ tbsp Baby oil

II. Materials Figure 14 Materials Used for

this experiment

There are two main components in making

commercial polymer clay; namely Plasticizers and
PVC. Plasticizers increase the plastic
characteristics of a material or simply enhance its
elasticity while PVC or Polyvinyl chloride is the III. Procedures (is proportional to 1 cup of
most common plastic or base used in the commercial cornstarch used)
world.

For this homemade experiment, the researcher

used cornstarch and glue as the base and plasticizer
of the clay. The glue will give the flexibility and
plastic components the mixture will need in order to
be made as clay and the cornstarch will reduce the
stickiness of the clay. Plus, glue contains monomers
which will be bonded together through polymerization Step 1: Add
for the clay to come of be. cornstarch and glue into a
bowl then mix well until
Baby oil will fully combined. Their
also be used as a ratio should be 1:1.
diluent to soften
the clay while lemon
juice
The following is the Figure 15: Adding cornstarch and glue
complete list of needed
materials in making
polymer clay:
 Step 2: Add 1 tbsp of lemon juice and 2 tbsp of
baby oil into the mixture. These amounts are in Step 4: Begin kneading the clay until the
proportion to 1 cup of cornstarch and 4 ounces of texture becomes smooth ad not sticky, add more
glue. Stir well until completely blended. cornstarch to lessen the stickiness.

Figure 19: Clay molding Figure 20: Clay molding 2

Figure 16: Adding baby oill and lemon juice Figure 17: Stirring the mixture

Step 3: Put the mixture into an oven/microwave Step 5: The clay is made and can now be molded
for 30-40 seconds then stir the mixture again and to any form desired.
lastly put the mixture back in the oven for another
30-40 seconds.

IV. Result
The product of the experiment, which is the
homemade clay, is molded into a pencil holder with a
sticky note dispenser as well which is ideal for
desk uses.

Figure 18: Putting mixture in the oven

Figure 21: The final product Figure 22: Close up on the final product
 forms: rigid and flexible.

Note: The clay completely dries at approximately 24-

48 hours. The clay can be put in an air-tight
container and stored in the refrigerator if desired
to not dry.

The image above shows how PVC is formed through

radical chain polymerization.

V. Conclusion In
this

VI. Questions
What are the components of the polymer clay? experiment, the researcher used normal glue that is
used in schools and office. The glue contains
monomers called vinyl acetate the formed together
In commercial or synthetically-made polymer through free radical vinyl polymerization to create
clay, as stated earlier, is made up of two a polymer called polyvinyl acetate.
components namely PVC or polyvinyl chloride and
plasticizers.PVC is the world's third-most widely
produced synthetic plastic polymer, after
polyethylene and polypropylene. About 40 million
tonnes are produced per year. PVC comes in two basic
 Other than the glue, this homemade polymer clay
used cornstarch to lessen the sticky texture, baby
oil to give the clay a smooth texture and lemon
juice for

Write the polymerization equation.