Objectives: This learning packet should:
•Provide real world examples, give the learner opportunities to experience how an enzyme works.
•Introduce the new vocabulary and definitions, reiterating them throughout the lesson.
• Keep to the basic information and design a means for the learner to interact with the new content material.
•Integrate a means for the learner to actively engage in the material, watching a short video and predicting an outcome, or performing a safe experiment in their own environment.
Objectives: This learning packet should:
New Terms: A few terms that may be new are:
You may want to review the packets on Cellular Structure and Proteins if these concepts aren't familiar to you.
Source: Wendy Dusek
This experiment is a quick example of how an enzyme and substrate react.
Add a few drops of Hydrogen Peroxide to a slice of raw potato and observe any visible changes.
What did you observe?
Why do you think that happened?
What do you think is the substrate?
What is the enzyme?
What is the product?
The Hydrogen peroxide is the substrate
(are you surprised?)
The enzyme is within the potato and is known as “catalase”
This enzyme is present to protect the potato from the oxygen in the air.
The bubbles occurred because the enzyme catalase broke down the oxygen in the hydrogen peroxide to a safer form of oxygen.
The bubbles indicated the product formed as a result of catalase (the enzyme) + hydrogen peroxide.
You can try this with a potato, or some other food item you wish to determine if that food item has catalase or not.
If your experiment of food + hydrogen peroxide produces bubbles, your food contains the enzyme catalase.
If no bubbles are formed, the enzyme catalase isn't present in that particular food.
Source: Wendy Dusek
That is a good question John, peroxide is the substrate for the enzyme catalase. There is a 'lock and key' fit between peroxide and catalase, and catalase will be active only on peroxide and nothing else.
Your question asked about the substrate peroxide, and manganese (IV)oxide is capable of decomposing hydrogen peroxide, but catalase is faster and more efficient.
"Great packet! This packet does a wonderful job of explaining how enzymes work."
"The experiment was great! Really solidified the concept for me. "
"Creative presentation and very straightforward."
"This tutorial provides a simple hands-on test to catch the students interest."