Hello,

I did an experiment based on how temperature affects the catalase activity when h2o2 is present.

According to my biology teacher, my results were very abnormal.

The temperatures used were- 5 degrees C (around 41 degrees F), 20 degrees C (68 deg F, room temp), 37 degrees (98.6 deg F, human body temp) and 95 degrees (203 deg F, close to boiling).

At 95 degrees, I had the most amount of oxygen released. This surprised me as 37 degrees (98.6 F) is the human body temperature and is the optimum temperature for the catalase.

There were 12 test tubes, 3 in each temperature and was left for around 5 minutes. In each test tube was 1ml of pureed liver and we also used 1ml of h2o2. Basically a 1:1 ratio.

The h2o2 was not heated up.

 

If there are any questions, ask up and I'll try to respond.

(edit - the liver used was a cow's liver)

Edited August 23, 20178 yr by torra
Added more information

At higher temperatures the enzime performance should decrease as it denatures. Don't now why you're getting those results but have two ideas... maybe the heat is provoking the decompossition of it? And... could be some other catalyst in the liver breaking down the hydrogen peroxyde?

Could you be releasing oxygen just on the basis of its being less soluble at high temperature than low (as is typical for gases)?  In other words, could this result be an artifact?