Amylase Temperature Experiment

Design:

1. The effect of temperature on the rate of reaction of an enzyme (amylase).

2. Research Question:

a. How does temperature affect the rate of reaction of amylase?

3. Hypothesis

a. As the temperature increases, the rate of reaction of amylase also increases. After it reaches the optimum temperature, the rate of reaction will start to decrease until all the enzymes are denatured.

4. Background

a. Amylase is found in the saliva (mouth) of humans. It helps to digest food particles in our mouth by catalyzing the starch in food particles, into sugars.

b. In this experiment, we ware trying to find how temperature affects the rate of reaction of amylase catalyzing starch into sugar. An increase in temperature will often increase the rate of

You must first check if all the equipment and materials are present and ready to use. Including a lab coat and safety goggles, which you must wear before beginning with the experiment.

b. You may use this table to record your data, or create another table similar to this

i.

Test tube Time taken to change color/sec Color change

1

2

3

4

5

c. Separate the test tubes into 2 groups (there should be 2 groups of 5 now)

d. Label 5 test tubes A1-A5 (A for amylase solution)

e. Label the other 5 test tubes S1-S5 (S for starch solution)

f. Place all the test tubes in a test tube rack

g. Label one beaker “cold water” and fill it with cold water from the water dispenser

h. Label another beaker “normal water” and fill it with the normal water from the dispenser

i. Label another beaker “ warm water and fill it with hot water from the water dispenser

j. Label another beaker “ very warm water and fill it with hot water from the water dispenser, then place it on magnetic stirrer (hot plate stirrer) while measuring its temperature

k. Label another beaker “ hot water and fill it with hot water from the water dispenser, then place it on magnetic stirrer (hot plate stirrer) while measuring its

You must first test the pH level of the amylase and starch solution using pH test strips, so that the experiment may be fair

m. Then measure 3cm3 of amylase solution using the measuring cylinder, the pour it into the test tubes labeled A1-A5

n. Do the same for the starch solution but pour into the test tubes labeled S1-S5

o. Put test tubes A1 and S1 into the beaker labeled “cold water”

p. Put test tubes A2 and S2 into the beaker labeled “normal water”

q. Put test tubes A3 and S3 into the beaker labeled “warm water”

r. Put test tubes A4 and S4 into the beaker labeled “very warm water”

s. Put test tubes A5 and S5 into the beaker labeled “hot water”

t. Mix the amylase solution with the starch solution when both are at the same temperature in each beakers (pour the amylase solution into the starch solution)

u. Quickly add 3 drops of iodine solution into all 5 mixed amylase and starch solutions, while starting the stopwatch for each (should be 5 separate