Enzymes Lab Report

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Enzymes facilitate the reaction in a cell that make and break down polymers; enzymes are specialized macromolecules that speed up chemical reactions. Enzymes are specific to molecules they catalyze chemical reactions (Campbell Biology, 2014 pg 67). The active site can only fit a certain type of molecule, but many contribute to the completion of different enzymes speed up reactions (Goldsworthy, 73). Enzymes are important because they speed up chemical reactions that could otherwise take years to complete, but with enzymes can take a few seconds. For example, in a reaction where the body digests starch, it converts it into glucose (www.gmo-compass.org). This reaction starts in the mouth when enzymes begin to break down the starch. An enzyme…show more content…
Amylase enzymes are found in saliva. This is where they begin the chemical process of digestion. Foods that are high in starch will taste slightly sweet because of this reaction (www.biology-online.com). Enzymes, like other catalysts, emerge from the reaction in their original form. Therefore very small amounts of enzyme can have a huge metabolic impact by functioning over and over again in catalytic cycles (Campbell Biology, 2014, pg 154.). An enzyme is able to do this because it lowers the activation energy level that is needed to catalyze rather than a reaction trying to take place without an enzyme…show more content…
The amylase enzyme is mainly located in saliva and pancreas and is key to break down carbohydrates (www.biology-online.com). These enzymes are very consistent, but they need the right temperature and pH to work. The hypothesis is that the amylase enzymes will have the fastest reaction in a specific pH and body temperature. Amylase will have the fastest reaction at 98 degrees (F) and a pH of 7. To test the hypothesis we will put starch in different test tubes and expose them to different levels in temperature and pH. Once they are exposed we will start a timer that will see how long different test tubes take to break down starches into

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