Summary
Areas of Science
Difficulty
Time Required
Average (6-10 days)
Safety
Adult supervision is recommended for this project.
Credits
*Note:
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Abstract
Yeast contains an enzyme, called catalase, that acts as a catalyst for the reaction that breaks down hydrogen peroxide into oxygen and water (2H2O22H2O + O2). Safety note: oxygen is a highly reactive gas, adult supervision recommended for this project. For your background research, be sure that you understand substrate, catalyst, reaction rate, catalase, enzyme saturation and protein denaturation. Use a solution of 3% H2O2 for the substrate. Construct an apparatus that allows you to collect and measure the oxygen gas produced (for a description, see: An Aerobic Exercise: Yeast Metabolism with and without Aeration). Here are some questions you might try to answer with your project: What evidence do you have that the gas you are collecting is oxygen? How does the reaction rate depend on the amount of substrate? At what substrate concentration does the reaction show evidence of enzyme saturation? How does the reaction rate depend on temperature (try increments of 10°C)? At what temperature does the reaction show evidence of protein denaturation? How does the activity of yeast catalase compare to catalase from potato extract or liver extract? How does it compare to the activity of iron oxide? (Gardner, 1999, 97-99; Hamamah, 2005)Bibliography
- Gardner, R., 1999. Science Projects About Kitchen Chemistry. Berkeley Heights, NJ: Enslow Publishers.
- Hamamah, A. A., 2005. How Do Substrate Amount, Temperature, pH, Enzyme Amount, and Inhibitor Affect Catalase Activity? California State Science Fair 2005 Project Summary. Retrieved January 18, 2006.
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Careers
If you like this project, you might enjoy exploring these related careers:
Career Profile
Growing, aging, digesting—all of these are examples of chemical processes performed by living organisms. Biochemists study how these types of chemical actions happen in cells and tissues, and monitor what effects new substances, like food additives and medicines, have on living organisms.
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Cite This Page
General citation information is provided here. Be sure to check the formatting, including capitalization, for the method you are using and update your citation, as needed.MLA Style
Science Buddies Staff.
"Measuring Enzyme Activity: Yeast Catalase." Science Buddies,
20 Nov. 2020,
https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/project-ideas/Chem_p040/chemistry/measuring-enzyme-activity-yeast-catalase.
Accessed 6 June 2023.
APA Style
Science Buddies Staff.
(2020, November 20).
Measuring Enzyme Activity: Yeast Catalase.
Retrieved from
https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/project-ideas/Chem_p040/chemistry/measuring-enzyme-activity-yeast-catalase
Last edit date: 2020-11-20
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