Name: ____________________________________________ Period: _____
LIVER ENZYME LAB
The objectives for this lab are for students to:
demonstrate the function of an enzyme
observe how a change in conditions can affect enzyme function
Background: All living cells contain enzymes. One of these enzymes, called catalase, breaks down a substance
called hydrogen peroxide (𝐻2𝑂2) that can build up in your cells. The enzymes change hydrogen peroxide into
oxygen gas (𝑂2) and water (𝐻2O). The chemical equation that represents this chemical reaction is:
Enzyme (catalase) action
2 𝐻2𝑂2 ---------------------------------------→ 𝑂2 (gas) + 2𝐻2O
PROBLEM: What is the effect of high temperature on enzyme activity?
HYPOTHESIS: (remember to state this as an IF……..Then….. Because…………..statement)
If you apply high temperature to an enzyme Then______________________________________________
Because
EXPERIMENT:
1. What is the control group? ______________________________________
2. What is the independent variable? ________________________________
3. What is the dependent variable? _________________________________
MATERIALS:
Each group of students will need to collect the following materials before beginning the lab:
A paper plate
This direction/lab report – one for each student
3 small cups
A small forceps
One graduated cylinder filled with 5ml of hydrogen peroxide
One piece of raw chicken liver, one piece of cooked chicken liver
Choose one piece of the following foods: apple, raw potato or spinach leaf
PROCEDURE:
1. Keep all materials on the blue tray
2. Number the cups 1 – 3
3. Add raw chicken liver to cup #1, cooked liver to cup #2 and your other food in cup #3
4. Get 5ml. of hydrogen peroxide (you will repeat this step 2 more times)
5. Add the 5ml. of hydrogen peroxide to cup #1 – with the raw chicken liver
6. IMMEDIATELY observe the amount of bubbling (gas) in each cup. Use this scale:
0= no bubbles at all
1= small amount of bubbles
2= medium amount of bubbles (bubbling half way up the cup)
3=large amount of bubbles (bubbling more than half way up the cup)
7. Repeat steps # 4 - #6 with the cups #2 and #3
8. Record observations in data table
One piece of frozen, raw, and cooked potato
, one piece of frozen chicken liver
