Praktikum enzim katalase

Enzyme Fundamentals and Catalase Function
📌 Metabolism involves chemical reactions accelerated by enzymes acting as biocatalysts.
📌 Enzymes possess a structure composed of protein and non-protein components.
📌 Enzyme action is explained by the Lock and Key theory and the Induced Fit theory.
📌 Catalase enzyme specifically works to convert H₂O₂ (hydrogen peroxide), a toxic substance, into H₂O and O₂.

Experimental Setup for Catalase Activity
🧪 The experiment aims to prove catalase's ability to decompose H₂O₂ by observing bubbles (H₂O) and a flame test (O₂) with a glowing splint.
🧪 Materials included chicken liver extract (source of catalase), NaOH (base), HCl (acid), and H₂O₂ (substrate).
🧪 Safety precautions included wearing a lab coat and gloves due to potentially harmful substances like H₂O₂.
🧪 Extracted catalase was subjected to different conditions: normal, cold (ice bath), hot (boiling water), acidic (HCl addition), and basic (NaOH addition).

Factors Affecting Enzyme Activity
🔥 In the basic (NaOH) condition, many bubbles were produced, but the flame test showed only a slight flame, indicating moderate but suboptimal activity.
🔥 In the acidic (HCl) condition, very few bubbles formed, and no sustained flame was observed, showing poor enzyme function.
🔥 In the hot condition (boiling), no bubbles or flame were produced because the heat denatured the enzyme (protein), rendering it inactive.
🔥 In the cold condition (ice), many bubbles and a bright flame were observed, showing the enzyme remains highly functional in low temperatures.
🔥 The control group (normal conditions/body temperature) resulted in abundant bubbles and a very bright flame, indicating optimal enzyme performance.

Key Points & Insights
➡️ Enzymes, being proteins, are sensitive to heat, leading to denaturation and loss of function at high temperatures.
➡️ Catalase activity is strongly influenced by pH: activity is significantly reduced in acidic (HCl) or excessively basic (NaOH) environments compared to normal conditions.
➡️ The most optimal activity for the catalase from chicken liver was observed under normal, non-treated conditions, suggesting an optimal working temperature near that of the source organism.
➡️ The breakdown of H₂O₂ into H₂O and O₂ is confirmed by the production of effervescence (bubbles) and the re-ignition of a glowing splint.

📸 Video summarized with SummaryTube.com on Jan 28, 2026, 07:13 UTC