Ammara Aslam
p180267
Investigative Project
In this assignment I will produce a working plan for my project which is the effect of
pH on enzymes. This experiment which I will be doing investigates which pH the
enzyme amylase works best at. In the digestive system the enzyme amylase breaks
down starch. My aim is to see which pH is the optimum for amylase and I will
produce a graph which will show this.
Hypothesis-as pH increases the rate of enzyme activity increases up to an optimum
where it will decrease and eventually denature.
Chemical risks:
The water bath is a risk as it could potentially cause electrocution of the operator this may be
due to an electrical malfunction or the operator having wet hands, this is unlikely to occur if
the operator has dry hands however there is still a risk the hazard could occur. To prevent
this happening the operator should have dry hands, you should also prevent the water bath
from overheating by turning it off if it's not in use. The emergency procedure for this would be
to rinse cold water on the affected area. When disposing of the water bath, they should not
be moved when they are full of water and you should unplug the water bath then allow the
water to cool if its hot to prevent burns then remove the water then you can move the water
bath.
A chemical risk is the pH buffer, the hazard is that it may get in eyes or skin there is a risk of
this happening as it may spill and get onto your skin or eyes. To prevent this from happening
safety goggles and gloves should be worn. The emergency procedure for this is to
immediately wash the affected area with tap water, there are also eyewash stations which
can be used to clean out your eyes. pH buffer should be disposed of down the drain with
water.
Enzymes may also be a risk if they are inhaled it may cause an immune response, some
people may get an allergic reaction. As long as you wear PPE this is unlikely to happen. You
should wear PPE to prevent this and also wash your hands and avoid contact with your skin
and face. If it does get inhaled then seek medical attention.
Physical risks:
Glassware is a physical risk. There is a hazard the glassware such as beakers or boiling
tubes could smash this is sharp and it could cause harm. To prevent this you should carefully
handle the glassware. You should also have a first aid kit ready in case the glass hurts
someone and if it does smash you should clean it up.
My working plan is effective as I have planned an effective method which I made changes to
make it more suitable for the experiment I am carrying out. I have also planned out what i will
do and when i will do it to ensure i complete the whole practical and in the end i will have
produced a graph to summarise the effect of ph on enzyme activity. I also did a risk
assessment to identify what risks there are with my experiment and what I would do if they
do occur. I also did contingency planning if things go wrong to ensure I know what to do if
something does go wrong.
1
, Ammara Aslam
p180267
Equipment list:
● 10cm3 measuring cylinder
● Spotting tile
● Iodine solution
● Water bath
● Test tube rack
● Amylase enzyme solution
● pH buffer solution
● Test tubes
All of the equipment which I will use will be provided by the science technicians in
college. I will give them the equipment list so they know what i will need and they will
have it ready for me on the day when i tell them when my experiment is. Most of the
equipment is available in the lab already such as the test tubes, test tube rack,
measuring cylinder and spotting tile however the iodine solution, amylase enzyme
solution and pH buffer solution will have to be provided by the science technician.
The water bath will also have to be set up by a technician to the temperature which I
need.
“method:
1. I will add two drops of iodine solution into each depression of two spotting tiles
2. I then will measure 2 cm3 of amylase enzyme solution using a 10ml
measuring cylinder and add it to a test tube
3. I then will measure 2 cm3 of starch solution using a 10ml measuring cylinder
and add it into the same tube.
4. Then i'll measure and add 1 cm3 of pH solution to the test tube
5. Mix the solution in the test tube with a glass rod and place it into the test tube
rack in the water bath
6. Using a pipette I will remove a few drops of solution every 20 seconds from
the test tube and put them into a different well of the spotting tile
7. Repeat until the iodine solution stops turning black
8. Record the time this takes
9. Repeat with different pH solutions”
Timeline:
In the first double lesson on wednesday i will set up my equipment and set up the
equipment for the experiment, such as the iodine in the spotting tiles, the water bath, the
substrate and enzyme solution and i will use the pHs 2, 4 and 6 in this lesson and i will
record my results in a table. Then in the Friday 1 hour lesson I will carry out the experiment
on the pHs 8 and 10 and record my results. Then in the week after the double lesson
Wednesday I will carry out the experiment again and repeat my experiment for the pHs 2,4
2
p180267
Investigative Project
In this assignment I will produce a working plan for my project which is the effect of
pH on enzymes. This experiment which I will be doing investigates which pH the
enzyme amylase works best at. In the digestive system the enzyme amylase breaks
down starch. My aim is to see which pH is the optimum for amylase and I will
produce a graph which will show this.
Hypothesis-as pH increases the rate of enzyme activity increases up to an optimum
where it will decrease and eventually denature.
Chemical risks:
The water bath is a risk as it could potentially cause electrocution of the operator this may be
due to an electrical malfunction or the operator having wet hands, this is unlikely to occur if
the operator has dry hands however there is still a risk the hazard could occur. To prevent
this happening the operator should have dry hands, you should also prevent the water bath
from overheating by turning it off if it's not in use. The emergency procedure for this would be
to rinse cold water on the affected area. When disposing of the water bath, they should not
be moved when they are full of water and you should unplug the water bath then allow the
water to cool if its hot to prevent burns then remove the water then you can move the water
bath.
A chemical risk is the pH buffer, the hazard is that it may get in eyes or skin there is a risk of
this happening as it may spill and get onto your skin or eyes. To prevent this from happening
safety goggles and gloves should be worn. The emergency procedure for this is to
immediately wash the affected area with tap water, there are also eyewash stations which
can be used to clean out your eyes. pH buffer should be disposed of down the drain with
water.
Enzymes may also be a risk if they are inhaled it may cause an immune response, some
people may get an allergic reaction. As long as you wear PPE this is unlikely to happen. You
should wear PPE to prevent this and also wash your hands and avoid contact with your skin
and face. If it does get inhaled then seek medical attention.
Physical risks:
Glassware is a physical risk. There is a hazard the glassware such as beakers or boiling
tubes could smash this is sharp and it could cause harm. To prevent this you should carefully
handle the glassware. You should also have a first aid kit ready in case the glass hurts
someone and if it does smash you should clean it up.
My working plan is effective as I have planned an effective method which I made changes to
make it more suitable for the experiment I am carrying out. I have also planned out what i will
do and when i will do it to ensure i complete the whole practical and in the end i will have
produced a graph to summarise the effect of ph on enzyme activity. I also did a risk
assessment to identify what risks there are with my experiment and what I would do if they
do occur. I also did contingency planning if things go wrong to ensure I know what to do if
something does go wrong.
1
, Ammara Aslam
p180267
Equipment list:
● 10cm3 measuring cylinder
● Spotting tile
● Iodine solution
● Water bath
● Test tube rack
● Amylase enzyme solution
● pH buffer solution
● Test tubes
All of the equipment which I will use will be provided by the science technicians in
college. I will give them the equipment list so they know what i will need and they will
have it ready for me on the day when i tell them when my experiment is. Most of the
equipment is available in the lab already such as the test tubes, test tube rack,
measuring cylinder and spotting tile however the iodine solution, amylase enzyme
solution and pH buffer solution will have to be provided by the science technician.
The water bath will also have to be set up by a technician to the temperature which I
need.
“method:
1. I will add two drops of iodine solution into each depression of two spotting tiles
2. I then will measure 2 cm3 of amylase enzyme solution using a 10ml
measuring cylinder and add it to a test tube
3. I then will measure 2 cm3 of starch solution using a 10ml measuring cylinder
and add it into the same tube.
4. Then i'll measure and add 1 cm3 of pH solution to the test tube
5. Mix the solution in the test tube with a glass rod and place it into the test tube
rack in the water bath
6. Using a pipette I will remove a few drops of solution every 20 seconds from
the test tube and put them into a different well of the spotting tile
7. Repeat until the iodine solution stops turning black
8. Record the time this takes
9. Repeat with different pH solutions”
Timeline:
In the first double lesson on wednesday i will set up my equipment and set up the
equipment for the experiment, such as the iodine in the spotting tiles, the water bath, the
substrate and enzyme solution and i will use the pHs 2, 4 and 6 in this lesson and i will
record my results in a table. Then in the Friday 1 hour lesson I will carry out the experiment
on the pHs 8 and 10 and record my results. Then in the week after the double lesson
Wednesday I will carry out the experiment again and repeat my experiment for the pHs 2,4
2
