CATALASE

Catalase is an enzyme which occurs in the cells of many living organisms. Many of the energy-releasing
reactions in the cells of living organisms produce hydrogen peroxide (H 2O2) as an end-product. H2O2 is
highly toxic to cells. Cells remove the H2O2 by breaking it down into water and oxygen, with the help of
the enzyme catalase.
2(H2O2)
2(H2O) + O2
This investigation is a fairly critical examination of plant and animal tissues to see if they contain
catalase. You should follow the first steps and then design the final investigation, based upon what you
have learnt about enzymes and the way the function.
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)

Label three test-tubes 1, 2 & 3.

Pour about 20 ml of H2O2 into each tube.
Cut the liver into three pieces.
To tube 1 add a small piece of liver, and to tube 2 add a pinch of dried yeast.
Insert a glowing splint into tubes 1 and 2, bringing it close to the reaction surface.

1. Describe what you saw happening and the effect of the glowing splint.
I saw the glowing splint relighting itself when inserted into the liver test tube and glowing brighter
in the yeast test tube.
2. How do you interpret these observations?
This can mean that the liver contained more catalase because it was able to catalyze the hydrogen
peroxide more effectively compared to the yeast.
3. Is there any evidence in this investigation so far, to indicate whether the gas is coming from the
hydrogen peroxide or from the solid material (liver or yeast)?
There is evidence that the gas is coming from the hydrogen peroxide, when the test tubes were
set up some were producing small amounts of oxygen on their own.
4. Is there any evidence at this stage that an enzyme is involved in the production of gas in this reaction?
There is evidence, the evidence is that the hydrogen peroxide reacted more energetically when the
liver and the yeast were added.
f)

In tube 3 place a few granules of charcoal and observe the reaction.

5. Could the charcoal be an enzyme? Explain your answer.

The charcoal is not an enzyme for hydrogen peroxide because the chemical showed no reaction to
the charcoal.

6. Assuming (i) that the gas in (f) is the same as before and (ii) that the charcoal is almost pure carbon,
does the result with the charcoal help you decide on the source of the gas in this and the previous
experiments?
This help show that the hydrogen peroxide can still react slowly without an enzyme.
g) Suppose that the hypothesis is advanced that there is an enzyme in the liver and the yeast, which
decomposes hydrogen peroxide to oxygen and water, design and carry out a control investigation
to test this hypothesis. This investigation should be planned using the planning format.
7. Record:
i.
The experiment
ii.
The reasons which led you to conduct the experiment
iii.
The observed results
iv.
The conclusions
John Osborne
June 215