Effects of Temperature pH Substrate Concentration and Enzyme Concentration on the Enzyme Catecholase
... The active site is an area where the substrate will bind (Helms, 1998). The substrate is the reactant an enzyme acts on. ... The activity rate of an enzyme is dependent on its environmental surroundings. If its surroundings are favorable to the enzyme, then the rate of the reaction will be at its greatest. However, unfavorable conditions will cause an enzyme to denature or decrease in its activity rate. Thus, the activity rate of an enzyme can be effected if its surroundings are altered from an enzyme’s favorable working conditions. For instance, every enzyme possesses an optimal temperature and an optimal pH at which its reaction rate is at its highest. Moreover, a dramatic change in the temperature and pH will effect activity rate of the enzyme (Kimball, 2002). Extreme low and high temperatures will cause the enzyme to denature and no reactions will occur. The optimal pH for enzymes is around 6-8. If the pH level drops below or goes beyond these levels, the enzyme will begin to denature and no reactions will occur. Also, different concentrations of enzymes and substrates can effect the activity rate of the enzyme. In this experiment, the enzyme catecholase will be used to understand the effects of these four components on enzymatic activity. Catecholase is an enzyme that is found in some fruits and vegetables and aids the reaction between catechol and oxygen. ... The hypothesis is when the temperature increases the rate of the reaction increases until the enzyme begins to denature. The optimal temperature for enzymes is around 24 degrees Celsius. When the pH level is increased, the rate of the reaction will be at its highest in the neutral levels of the pH. When the concentration of the enzyme is increased, the reaction rate of the enzyme will also increase. When the concentration of the enzyme is increased, the reaction rate of the enzyme will also increase until the substrate reaches a certain concentration causing the reaction to remain constant.