Question

You have learned in class that changing the pH or temperature of the environment can denature an enzyme. When an enzyme is denatured, it's shape changes, preventing it from forming an enzyme-substrate complex and slowing the reaction or even causing it to stop. Your group is curious about what might denature catalase. What would be the most appropriate hypothesis to use if you wanted to test conditions that could denature catalase?

A) If the amount of liver is increased, then the reaction rate will increase.
B) If the hydrogen peroxide is warmed, then the rate of the reaction will increase.
C) If the liver is placed in an acidic solution, then the reaction rate will decrease.
D) If the concentration of hydrogen peroxide is decreased, then the reaction rate will decreas

Answer 1

It would C cause the if the liver was placed in the acidic solution hen the reaction would definitely go down.

Answer 2

Answer:

C) If the liver is placed in an acidic solution, then the reaction rate will decrease.

Explanation:

Placing the pH in an acidic solution will cause denaturing of the enzyme catalase. Catalase is an enzyme which is in our liver and it breaks hydrogen peroxide into water and oxygen so as to protect our body from harmful effects of hydrogen peroxide. Catalase works best at 7 pH value. If we will place the liver in acidic solution it will cause denaturation of catalase. Denaturation alters the shape of the active site of enzymes. Active sites are the sites in enzymes which are meant for substrate binding. They have a shape which fits a specific substrate. So, if the shape of the active site will change due to denaturation, the substrate will no longer be able to fit into the enzyme and therefore reaction will not take place.