IndexMaterials:Discussion:Conclusion:Purpose: The purpose of the laboratory is to learn the functions of enzymes, particularly in chemical reactions, and to determine whether, over time, the enzymes change of activity in the rate. More specifically, the lab was done to learn the use of catalase in hydrogen peroxide to create a chemical reaction, to follow the correct lab procedure, and to accurately measure and record data. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay Materials: 6 clean test tubes Calorimeter, consisting of a graduated cylinder, a cotton ball and a temperature probe (connected to the Pro laboratory which in turn is connected to the Computer for data compilation) Cotton ball cap Tongs Graduated cylinder Hydrogen peroxide Pieces of absorbent paper Samples of raw and boiled carrot Samples of raw and boiled liver Samples of raw and boiled potato Test tube holder Writing utensil (to observe and label) Discussion: Observations from the laboratory correspond to the description on the background of decomposition of hydrogen peroxide by catalase. The raw samples, at room temperature, formed many bubbles (for an explanation of how read a sentence or two below), while the boiled temperatures did not (those samples formed few or no bubbles) because the enzymes, which act as catalysts in this experiment, they work best at room temperature, body temperature. A higher temperature will affect the efficiency of the enzymes as catalysts in the reaction and therefore will not cause as many bubbles due to the lethargy of the chemical reaction (the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide, which causes the bubbles). Catalase, in this experiment, is an enzyme that acts as a catalyst. Bubbles formed when catalase was added because catalase is creating a chemical reaction, causing hydrogen peroxide (2H2O2) to decompose into 2H20 (water) and 02 (oxygen gas) lowering the activation energy needed to start the reaction. Oxygen, in the form of a gas, is what causes the bubbles, when it escapes after being broken down by hydrogen peroxide. Catalase in plant and animal tissues is the enzyme that serves as the catalyst in the experiment. Plant tissues have a cell well made up of cellulose while it is absent in animal cells. This is what causes the reaction, as it breaks down the hydrogen peroxide. Hydrogen peroxide, when poured on a wound, begins to boil. Since catalase acting with hydrogen peroxide creates bubbles by breaking down hydrogen peroxide into water and oxygen, it is logical to assume that catalase is present in human tissues. The average change in total temperature during the experiments from the lowest to the highest temperatures was 10.7. degrees Celsius. The average temperature change from zero to three hundred seconds over the course of the tests was 9.25 degrees Celsius. If the graph reaches a plateau, the reaction rate is neither negative nor positive; is zero, since the rate is stable, constant and does not change. The plateau means that the reaction is over. This experiment is an exothermic reaction. You might notice the heat radiating from it if you put your hands on it. If the temperature initially increases, but then decreases, it means that the reaction occurs very rapidly and the heat is expelled in the exothermic reaction quickly. When the heat disappears, the substance cools, reducing the temperature. If a graph decreases after a sudden increase or reaches a plateau, it means that the reaction did not take the full three hundred seconds to complete, but.