Core Practical 12
Investigating the Effect of Temperature on Enzyme Activity
Task 1 Research & Hypotheses:
Before you start planning your experiment you should decide what effect you think
temperature will have on the rate of breakdown of hydrogen peroxide catalysed by
the enzyme catalase. Write down your idea as a question or hypothesis that you can
answer or test and support your idea with biological knowledge. If you present your
idea as a question, make a prediction about the answer to the question. To help you
decide on what you are going to investigate and how you will carry out the practical
work you might need to research the background science and methods people have
used to investigate similar problems. You will need to consider how to calculate
initial rates of reaction and also Q10. Remember to cite all your references using the
format you learnt in year 12.
Task 2 Planning the Investigation:
Design an experiment to test your idea or hypothesis and write a detailed plan to
use during the investigation. Your experiment will need to give you sufficient data to
determine initial rate of reaction at different temperatures. Your experimental data
should also allow you to calculate Q10 for the reaction. The equipment available is
listed on the assignment page.
Make sure your plan:
includes apparatus and a method that will validly answer your question or test
your hypothesis
identifies the independent and dependent variables
identifies any other variables that may affect the outcome of the experiment
and, where possible, controls or allows for them
includes the range of values you will use for the independent variable and the
range you might expect to find for the dependent variable
has a fully explained control, if appropriate
includes replicates, if appropriate, and an explanation of why these are
necessary
says exactly what measurements you will make and how they will be made to
ensure valid, accurate and precise results are obtained
Investigating the Effect of Temperature on Enzyme Activity
Task 1 Research & Hypotheses:
Before you start planning your experiment you should decide what effect you think
temperature will have on the rate of breakdown of hydrogen peroxide catalysed by
the enzyme catalase. Write down your idea as a question or hypothesis that you can
answer or test and support your idea with biological knowledge. If you present your
idea as a question, make a prediction about the answer to the question. To help you
decide on what you are going to investigate and how you will carry out the practical
work you might need to research the background science and methods people have
used to investigate similar problems. You will need to consider how to calculate
initial rates of reaction and also Q10. Remember to cite all your references using the
format you learnt in year 12.
Task 2 Planning the Investigation:
Design an experiment to test your idea or hypothesis and write a detailed plan to
use during the investigation. Your experiment will need to give you sufficient data to
determine initial rate of reaction at different temperatures. Your experimental data
should also allow you to calculate Q10 for the reaction. The equipment available is
listed on the assignment page.
Make sure your plan:
includes apparatus and a method that will validly answer your question or test
your hypothesis
identifies the independent and dependent variables
identifies any other variables that may affect the outcome of the experiment
and, where possible, controls or allows for them
includes the range of values you will use for the independent variable and the
range you might expect to find for the dependent variable
has a fully explained control, if appropriate
includes replicates, if appropriate, and an explanation of why these are
necessary
says exactly what measurements you will make and how they will be made to
ensure valid, accurate and precise results are obtained
