Mason Clark Ava Embrey Kalen Carper Jasmyne Post Effects of Varying Concentrations of Catalase on Hydrogen Peroxide Reactions Mason Clark Ava Embrey Kalen Carper Jasmyne Post

Abstract (Introduction) Purpose: Determine if adding more catalase to a beaker of hydrogen peroxide would produce more oxygen gas Experiment Summary: We used gas pressure sensor to measure the amount of gas that was given off during the reaction in three different trials.

Background Experiments have been performed in the past such as ours but we wanted to: Observe the reactions ourselves See how our methods and technology would alter our results compared to theirs The Experiments that we examined were: P George, Biochemical Journal Peter Jones and A Sugget, Biomedical Journal

The Effect of Peroxide and Other Factors on the Decomposition of Hydrogen Peroxide by Catalase P. George, Biochemical Journal, 1949 Extracted liver catalase from liver of horse They added that catalase (in different variations) to a hydrogen peroxide mixture and measured the oxygen evolution Used a technique developed by Meldrum, Roughten, and George to measure pressure Found that the higher the concentration, the quicker the pressure rose

The Catalase- Hydrogen Peroxide System Peter Jones and A Sugget, 1968 Used the Quenched Flow Technique– a technique in which two reactants are mixed together and then their reaction is quenched with a chemical agent They started their mixture with a low concentration of catalase, and slowly raised it for different trials They also found the higher the concentration, the quicker the pressure rose

Hypothesis The Hydrogen Peroxide solutions with the highest concentrations of catalase added will produce the most oxygen byproduct.

Materials 150 mL of 1.5% hydrogen peroxide Erlenmeyer flask Stir bar and plate Gas pressure sensor and tubing 100 microliters of catalase concentrations of each: 100 units/mL 1000 units/mL 2000 units/mL Ring Stand Two hole stopper Logger Pro Software

Methods Don all necessary PPE Measure out 50 mL of H202 in flask Place stir bar in flask, and attach flask to ring stand, sitting on the stir plate Attach the gas pressure sensor and Logger Pro reciever Add 100 micro liters of 100 units/mL enzyme suspension, and seal the flask

Methods Cont. 6. Start the stirrer at a medium-slow speed, and start data collection 7. Stop collecting data after 200 seconds 8. Repeat steps 2-7 with 1000 units/mL suspension, and 2000 units/mL suspension

Results Our data shows a direct correlation between the concentration of catalase, and the increased pressure of the container, due to the produced oxygen. The results were very similar with the two lowest concentrations, with the pressure raising .6 kPa with the 100 u/mL concentration, and .3 kPa with the 1000 u/mL concentration. However, the pressure greatly increased with the 2000 u/mL concentration, raising 4.1 kPa. The graphs below are scaled to show the difference in the amount of pressure increased.

100 units/mL

1000 units/mL

2000 units/mL

Discussion Higher concentration of catalase, there is more enzyme activity More enzyme activity, more byproduct oxygen

Higher concentration of catalase= increased rate of oxygen byproduct Conclusion Higher concentration of catalase= increased rate of oxygen byproduct Hypothesis confirmed