Science Lab Report

Kaze Ho S3M-1

Research question
Does the concentration of hydrogen peroxide affect the rate of enzyme reaction?
Introduction
Hydrogen peroxide is a natural substance that can be found in trace amounts in rain and snow. It is an unstable compound of H2O2, as such it is easily broken down into water and oxygen. Our bodys immune
system also produces hydrogen peroxide to help control bacteria and viruses. Although it is toxic in high
concentrations, cells contain enzymes (catalase) to break down the hydrogen peroxide (substrate). Below
shows this reaction.
Hydrogen peroxide

Enzymes

Water + Oxygen

As shown in the word equation above, oxygen is produced as a product of this reaction between hydrogen
peroxide and enzymes. In this investigation, the rate of enzyme reaction can be tested by timing the the
time it takes for the leaf to rise to the surface of the hydrogen peroxide solution. This can be done as the
rate of enzyme reaction is shown through the production of oxygen bubbles that helps to bring the leaf up
to the surface of the solution.
Aim
The aim of this investigation is to find out whether or not there is a correlation between the concentration
of hydrogen peroxide and the rate of enzyme reaction.
Prediction
The higher the concentration of hydrogen peroxide, the faster the leaf takes to rise to the surface of the
solution in seconds.
Hypothesis
If the concentration of the hydrogen peroxide increases, then the faster it would take for the leaf to rise to
the surface of the solution. This is due to the fact that with a higher concentration of substrate there will be
more substrate to react with the enzymes. Hence there will be more oxygen bubble to carry the leaf to the
surface of the solution

Science Lab Report

Kaze Ho S3M-1

Equipment List
Name of equipment and materials

Quantity

Concentration of hydrogen peroxide (0%, 1%, 2%, 3%,

4%, 5%)

40ml of each, 240ml in total

1cm x 1cm baby peking cabbage leaf

18 pieces

Short metal wires

18 pieces

Plastic cups/containers

18 in total

Stopwatch

3 in total

100ml Plastic measuring cylinder

1 in total

Experimental variables (Independent, dependent and control variable)

Type of variable

What it is?

Independent variable

The concentration of the hydrogen

peroxide in percents.

Dependent variable

Control variables

How? (To change/To measure)

The time is takes for the leaf to rise

to the surface of the solution in Use a stopwatch to measure the
amount of time needed for the lead
seconds
1. The species of leaf
2. The size of leaf (1cm x 1cm)
3. The amount of hydrogen peroxide (40ml)

Labeled diagram of apparatus

Procedure
1. Cut the baby peking cabbage leaf into 18 small pieces of the size 1cm by 1cm
2. Set up the experiment as shown in the diagram above using the 0% concentration of hydrogen peroxide.
3. Once the leaf is completely submerged at the bottom of the container, start timing using the stopwatch
4. Once the lead has rose to the surface of the solution, stop the stopwatch.

Science Lab Report

Kaze Ho S3M-1

5. Record the results in a table

6. Repeat steps 2 to 5 using the five different concentration of hydrogen peroxide.
7. Repeat steps 2 to 6 at least two more times and calculate the average timing for each of the change in
the hydrogen peroxide concentration.
Safety
1. Wear safety goggles throughout the entire experiment as hydrogen peroxide is an irritant to the eye.
2. Wash hands immediately if in contact with hydrogen peroxide as it causes dryness of skin.
3. Do not use hydrogen peroxide with concentration of more than 10% as high concentrations of hydrogen peroxide is toxic.
DATA COLLECTION AND PROCESSING
Observations
As the leaf was rising to the surface of the hydrogen peroxide solution, many oxygen bubbles were seen.

Table of results
Concentration of
hydrogen peroxide
solution / %

Time taken for the leaf to rise to the surface of the solution /s
Trial 1

Trial 2

Trial 3

Mean

179

215

92

162

55

74

118

82.3

139

39

93

90.3

84

36

103

75.0

50

32

111

64.3

Graph of results (Describe the trend line)

Science Lab Report

Kaze Ho S3M-1

This graph shows the correlation between the time taken for the leaf to rise to the surface of the solution
against the concentration of hydrogen peroxide solution. The trend line shows a polynomial correlation
between the two variables. Hence it can be generalised that as the concentration of hydrogen peroxide increase, the time it takes for the leaf to rise up to the surface of the solution decreases. However there is one
anomalous result as the data point of the time taken in regards to the 2% hydrogen peroxide concentration
does not fall on the general polynomial trend line. This could be due to the error while collecting the data.
From the results it can also be shown that the optimum concentration of hydrogen peroxide solution is 5%
as the leaf took the least amount of time to rise to the surface with 64.3seconds, hence showing the fastest
rate of enzyme action. As the graph shows, it is fair to say that although the 2 variables do not change in a
linear way, they have a polynomial correlation and are in indirect proportion.
CONCLUSIONS
As shown in the results, it can be said that other than the anomalous result, our prediction and hypothesis
was proven. The higher the concentration of hydrogen peroxide, the faster the leaf takes to rise to the surface of the solution in seconds.
EVALUATION OF PROCEDURE AND SOURCES OF ERROR
Possible sources of error
1. The size of the leaves may not be exactly the same due to human cutting errors
2. Hydrogen peroxide solution may be contaminated to previous trials as the experiment was done three
times without a change of hydrogen peroxide solution
3. Length of the wire is different (different mass)
Improvement of error
1. Use a cork borer to cut the leaves instead of using a ruler and knife
2. Change the hydrogen peroxide solution after each trial
3. Set a standard mass and length of the wire. (Measure the mass and length of the wire before cutting)
Validity
This investigation can be considered a valid investigation as a control experiment was carried out (0%
concentration hydrogen peroxide solution). The control experiments results convey that the leaf rose due
to the single independent variable (hydrogen peroxide concentration) instead of other factors.
Precision
Smaller concentration gaps of hydrogen peroxide can be used to increase the precision of the investigation. For example, 1%, 1.5%, 2%, 2.5%, 3%, 3.5% etc. This investigation could also use more different
types of hydrogen peroxide concentration to see if there is a maximum concentration of hydrogen peroxide that causes the rate of enzyme activity to not be in a polynomial relationship with the concentration of
hydrogen peroxide.

Science Lab Report

Kaze Ho S3M-1

Reliability
This investigation can be considered reliable as all the trials was repeated 3 times and then taken an average. Hence reducing the effects of human errors such as the factor of human reaction time when collecting
data. To further improve the overall reliability of the investigation, the trials can be repeated 10 times or
more and then taken an average.
Anomalous results
There is one anomalous result as shown in the graph of results. It is regarding to the 2% hydrogen peroxide solution with the timing of 82.3seconds. As shown in the graph, it does not fall on the polynomial
curve, hence it can be said that it is not following the polynomial relationship between the hydrogen peroxide solution concentration and the rate of enzyme activity (shown by the amount of time the leaf needed
to rise to the surface of the solution). This anomalous result could be due to errors while collecting data.
Some human errors possible is that the timings were not taken by the same person so the factor of human
reaction time is different. Not only that problems such as the leaf rising to the surface then falling again
could have caused confusion while collecting data as it was not stated whether or not the timings should
be collected when the leaf rises and stays at the surface or when the leaf first rose to the surface. Using
automatic time measuring devices and further specifying the data collection process is some of the improvements needed for this investigation. That being said, the design of the experiment could specify that
all data should be collected when the leaf rose to the surface and stayed at the surface instead of when the
leaf first rose to the surface.