TOPIC:

TO STUDY THE EFFECTS OF TEMPERATURE ON THE ACTIVITY OF

SALIVARY AMYLASE
QUESTION:
You are required to plan out an investigation about the effect of temperature on the
reaction rate of enzyme activity. The activity of the enzyme will be determined by
time taken for hydrolysis to be completed.
Your experimental planning should include the following:
Aim of investigation
Statement of hypothesis
Variables
List of apparatus and materials
Techique used
Experimental procedure or method
Presentation of data
Conclusion
Write a report of the investigation/plan

(17 marks)

ANSWER:
Aim: To study the effects of temperature on the activity of salivary amylase.
Problem statement: What are the effects of temperature on the activity of salivary
amylase?
Hypothesis: The optimum temperature for salivary amylase is 37 C.
Variables:
Manipulated variable: Temperature
Responding variable: Rate of reaction
Fixed variables: volume and concentration of starch suspension, volume and
concentration of saliva suspension, pH of starch and saliva suspension.
Apparatus: Beakers, test tube, tripod stand, wire gauze, Bunsen burner, thermometer,
dropper, glass rod, syringes, stopwatch, spotting tile and test tube rack.
Materials: 1% starch suspension, saliva, iodine solution, ice cubes and distilled water
Technique: Recording the time taken for the complete hydrolysis of starch. The
presence of starch is indicated by the iodine test.
Procedure:
1. Rinse the mouth with distilled water.

2. Prepared the saliva suspension by splitting into a small beaker and diluting the
saliva with an amount of distilled water equal to the amount of saliva.
3. Prepare five water bath at the following temperature : 0C, 20C, 37C, 50C,
60C.
4. Label two test tube P and Q.
5. Put 4 ml of starch suspension in test tube P and 1 ml of saliva suspension in
test tube Q.
6. Place both test tube into the first water bath (at 0C) for 5 minutes.
7. Place one drop of iodine solution into each groove of spotting tile.
8. Pour the starch suspension from test tube P into the saliva suspension in the
test tube Q. Start the stopwatch immediately.
9. Take o drop of suspension from test tube Q every one minute and test with
iodine solution on the spotting tile.
10. Keep the test tube Q in the water bath throughout the experiment.
11. Record the time taken for the complete hydrolysis of starch in the table.
(When the iodine solution does not turn blue anymore)
12. Repeat step 4 to 9 for temperature 20C, 37C, 50C, 60C.
13. Plot a graph of rate of reaction (1/t) against temperature (C)
Result:
Temperature
bath (C)

of

water Time taken for complete Rate of

hydrolysis of starch, t (minute-1)
(minutes)

reaction

0
20
37
50
60
Conclusion:
The rate of reaction is highest at the temperature 37C. The hypothesis is accepted.

1/t