The Victoria School
MYP Year 4
October 23rd-26th 2012
LAB PRACTICE: Catalase and hydrogen peroxide reaction using bubble height
Criterion Evaluated: D and E
ATL: Thinking. Applying knowledge and concepts, including logical progression of arguments.
The purpose of this activity is:
Recognize the parts of an investigation.
Analyze the effects of catalase quantity/type on breaking down hydrogen peroxide into water and oxygen.


Enzymes are proteins that increase the rates of chemical reactions. In an enzymatic reaction, the molecules
starting the process, known as substrates, are converted into different molecules, known as products.
Practically all chemical reactions in a cell need enzymes in order to occur at rates that are enough for life,
making enzymes a very important molecule in life. Some of the foods we regularly eat contain an enzyme
called catalase (antioxidant enzyme) which breaks down hydrogen peroxide into water and oxygen. We can
measure the activity of a bio-molecule such as an enzyme (catalase in this case) by measuring the quantity of
bubbles produced by the chemical reaction.
Materials needed

(9) test tubes

(27 ml) of 30% hydrogen peroxide
Food material (vegetables with peel removed).
(1) Digital balance
(1) Rack for test tubes





(1) Graduated cylinder
(1) Plastic ruler
PROCEDURE
Safety:
Take care with sharp dissecting tools and report any cuts to your teacher.
Do not play with any of the materials you are given.
At the end of the practical, clean and organize the work area and wash your hands.



LAB PRACTICE
a
b
c
d
Organize your work area. Label each test tube that will be used.
Place 3 ml of hydrogen peroxide into each test tube.
Weight the food samples to use.
Place 1 piece of food into one of the test tubes and use a ruler to measure the maximum height of the
bubbles.
[Reproduced with the permission of Nelson Thornes from Gareth Williams, New Biology for You, 978-0-7487-8325-0 first printed in 2006.] Taken
from IB TaskBank.
The Victoria School
MYP Year 4
October 23rd-26th 2012
LAB PRACTICE: Catalase and hydrogen peroxide reaction using bubble height
Criterion Evaluated: D and E
ATL: Thinking. Applying knowledge and concepts, including logical progression of arguments.
The purpose of this activity is:
Recognize the parts of an investigation.
Analyze the effects of catalase quantity/type on breaking down hydrogen peroxide into water and oxygen.


Enzymes are proteins that increase the rates of chemical reactions. In an enzymatic reaction, the molecules
starting the process, known as substrates, are converted into different molecules, known as products.
Practically all chemical reactions in a cell need enzymes in order to occur at rates that are enough for life,
making enzymes a very important molecule in life. Some of the foods we regularly eat contain an enzyme
called catalase (antioxidant enzyme) which breaks down hydrogen peroxide into water and oxygen. We can
measure the activity of a bio-molecule such as an enzyme (catalase in this case) by measuring the quantity of
bubbles produced by the chemical reaction.
Materials needed

(9) test tubes

(27 ml) of 30% hydrogen peroxide
Food material (vegetables with peel removed).
(1) Digital balance
(1) Rack for test tubes





(1) Graduated cylinder
(1) Plastic ruler
PROCEDURE
Safety:
Take care with sharp dissecting tools and report any cuts to your teacher.
Do not play with any of the materials you are given.
At the end of the practical, clean and organize the work area and wash your hands.



LAB PRACTICE
e
f
g
h
Organize your work area. Label each test tube that will be used.
Place 3 ml of hydrogen peroxide into each test tube.
Weight the food samples to use.
Place 1 piece of food into one of the test tubes and use a ruler to measure the maximum height of the
bubbles.
[Reproduced with the permission of Nelson Thornes from Gareth Williams, New Biology for You, 978-0-7487-8325-0 first printed in 2006.] Taken
from IB TaskBank.
The Victoria School
MYP Year 4
October 23rd-26th 2012
LAB PRACTICE: Catalase and hydrogen peroxide reaction using bubble height
Criterion Evaluated: D and E
ATL: Thinking. Applying knowledge and concepts, including logical progression of arguments.
The purpose of this activity is:


Recognize the parts of an investigation.
Analyze the effects of catalase quantity/type on breaking down hydrogen peroxide into water and oxygen.
Enzymes are proteins that increase the rates of chemical reactions. In an enzymatic reaction, the molecules
starting the process, known as substrates, are converted into different molecules, known as products.
Practically all chemical reactions in a cell need enzymes in order to occur at rates that are enough for life,
making enzymes a very important molecule in life. Some of the foods we regularly eat contain an enzyme
called catalase (antioxidant enzyme) which breaks down hydrogen peroxide into water and oxygen. We can
measure the activity of a bio-molecule such as an enzyme (catalase in this case) by measuring the quantity of
bubbles produced by the chemical reaction.
Materials needed

(9) test tubes

(27 ml) of 30% hydrogen peroxide
Food material (vegetables with peel removed).
(1) Digital balance
(1) Rack for test tubes





(1) Graduated cylinder
(1) Plastic ruler
PROCEDURE
Safety:



Take care with sharp dissecting tools and report any cuts to your teacher.
Do not play with any of the materials you are given.
At the end of the practical, clean and organize the work area and wash your hands.
LAB PRACTICE
i
j
k
l
Organize your work area. Label each test tube that will be used.
Place 3 ml of hydrogen peroxide into each test tube.
Weight the food samples to use.
Place 1 piece of food into one of the test tubes and use a ruler to measure the maximum height of the
bubbles.
[Reproduced with the permission of Nelson Thornes from Gareth Williams, New Biology for You, 978-0-7487-8325-0 first printed in 2006.] Taken
from IB TaskBank.
The Victoria School
MYP Year 4
October 23rd-26th 2012
LAB PRACTICE: Catalase and hydrogen peroxide reaction using bubble height
Criterion Evaluated: D and E
ATL: Thinking. Applying knowledge and concepts, including logical progression of arguments.
The purpose of this activity is:
Recognize the parts of an investigation.
Analyze the effects of catalase quantity/type on breaking down hydrogen peroxide into water and oxygen.


Enzymes are proteins that increase the rates of chemical reactions. In an enzymatic reaction, the molecules
starting the process, known as substrates, are converted into different molecules, known as products.
Practically all chemical reactions in a cell need enzymes in order to occur at rates that are enough for life,
making enzymes a very important molecule in life. Some of the foods we regularly eat contain an enzyme
called catalase (antioxidant enzyme) which breaks down hydrogen peroxide into water and oxygen. We can
measure the activity of a bio-molecule such as an enzyme (catalase in this case) by measuring the quantity of
bubbles produced by the chemical reaction.
Materials needed

(9) test tubes

(27 ml) of 30% hydrogen peroxide
Food material (vegetables with peel removed).
(1) Digital balance
(1) Rack for test tubes





(1) Graduated cylinder
(1) Plastic ruler
PROCEDURE
Safety:
Take care with sharp dissecting tools and report any cuts to your teacher.
Do not play with any of the materials you are given.
At the end of the practical, clean and organize the work area and wash your hands.



LAB PRACTICE
m
n
o
p
Organize your work area. Label each test tube that will be used.
Place 3 ml of hydrogen peroxide into each test tube.
Weight the food samples to use.
Place 1 piece of food into one of the test tubes and use a ruler to measure the maximum height of the
bubbles.
[Reproduced with the permission of Nelson Thornes from Gareth Williams, New Biology for You, 978-0-7487-8325-0 first printed in 2006.] Taken
from IB TaskBank.
The Victoria School
MYP Year 4
October 23rd-26th 2012
LAB PRACTICE: Catalase and hydrogen peroxide reaction using bubble height
Criterion Evaluated: D and E
ATL: Thinking. Applying knowledge and concepts, including logical progression of arguments.
The purpose of this activity is:
Recognize the parts of an investigation.
Analyze the effects of catalase quantity/type on breaking down hydrogen peroxide into water and oxygen.


Enzymes are proteins that increase the rates of chemical reactions. In an enzymatic reaction, the molecules
starting the process, known as substrates, are converted into different molecules, known as products.
Practically all chemical reactions in a cell need enzymes in order to occur at rates that are enough for life,
making enzymes a very important molecule in life. Some of the foods we regularly eat contain an enzyme
called catalase (antioxidant enzyme) which breaks down hydrogen peroxide into water and oxygen. We can
measure the activity of a bio-molecule such as an enzyme (catalase in this case) by measuring the quantity of
bubbles produced by the chemical reaction.
Materials needed

(9) test tubes

(27 ml) of 30% hydrogen peroxide
Food material (vegetables with peel removed).
(1) Digital balance
(1) Rack for test tubes





(1) Graduated cylinder
(1) Plastic ruler
PROCEDURE
Safety:
Take care with sharp dissecting tools and report any cuts to your teacher.
Do not play with any of the materials you are given.
At the end of the practical, clean and organize the work area and wash your hands.



LAB PRACTICE
q
r
s
t
Organize your work area. Label each test tube that will be used.
Place 3 ml of hydrogen peroxide into each test tube.
Weight the food samples to use.
Place 1 piece of food into one of the test tubes and use a ruler to measure the maximum height of the
bubbles.
[Reproduced with the permission of Nelson Thornes from Gareth Williams, New Biology for You, 978-0-7487-8325-0 first printed in 2006.] Taken
from IB TaskBank.