The student conducted an experiment to test how pH affects enzyme function using potato pieces and hydrogen peroxide. They hypothesized that changing the pH would alter the enzyme's activation point shape so substrates could not react. They found that the potato piece in neutral water produced the most bubbles, while those in acid and base produced fewer, showing that changes in pH impair an enzyme's ability to function by changing its shape.

1. Enzyme Lab: How Does pH
Affect Enzyme Function

2. The Question
— How are enzyme functions affected by a change in
pH?

3. The Hypothesis
— The change in pH will alter the shape of the
activation point, so the enzymes will not be able to
react with substrates.

4. The Experiment
— Materials: the potato, an acid, a base, 3 test tubes,
and three droppers full of hydrogen peroxide.
— Step1: Cut the potato into three equal pieces.
— Step2: Drop one in an acid, one in a base, and leave
them their for a minute.
— Step3: Remove the two potato from the solutions
and place all three in a different test tube.
— Step 4: Drop Hydrogen Peroxide in the test tubes
and observe.

5. Results
— The one we put in the water created the most
amount of bubbles. And the ones we put in acid and
base made similar amount of bubbles, but not much.
— So, it is clear that pH affect enzyme function.

6. Conclusion
— Changes in pH break the delicate bond that gives the
enzyme it’s shape.
— When the enzyme’s activation point shape changes,
substrates can’t fit in the enzyme.