How does temperature affect how enzymes work?
Amylase is an enzyme found in saliva. It breaks down starch, turning it into a sugar. You are going to investigate how temperature or pH affects how well amylase works.
Prediction
1. Write down a prediction. Say what you think will happen and why.
Planning
2. Write down a method for your investigation. You may need some of the following apparatus.
Apparatus:
acid solution spotting tile water bath
alkali solution starch suspension
amylase solution (saliva) stopclock
iodine solution test tube rack
pipette test tubes
3. You will also need to think about these questions:
Which variables will you change and which will you keep the same?
How will you make sure that you do a fair test?
How will you find out if the amylase is working?
What will you measure?
How often will you take measurements?
What ranges will you use for the variables you are changing?
What will you do to make sure that you stay safe?
4. Show your plan to your teacher before you begin.
Recording your results
5. Make a table to record your results.
Considering your results/conclusions
6. Plot a bar chart to show your results.
7. Using your bar chart, write a ‘conclusion’. Say what happened and why you think it happened.
Do your results match your prediction?
Evaluation
8. Were any of the results surprising? If so, why?
9. Did you do a fair test, or were there some variables that you forgot to keep the same?
10. Do you think you have enough results to support your conclusion?
11. How might you improve your experiment to get more accurate results?