liver and hydrogen peroxide experiment

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Testing for catalase enzymes

In association with Nuffield Foundation

Try this class experiment to detect the presence of enzymes as they catalyse the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide

Enzymes are biological catalysts which increase the speed of a chemical reaction. They are large protein molecules and are very specific to certain reactions. Hydrogen peroxide decomposes slowly in light to produce oxygen and water. The enzyme catalase can speed up (catalyse) this reaction.

In this practical, students investigate the presence of enzymes in liver, potato and celery by detecting the oxygen gas produced when hydrogen peroxide decomposes. The experiment should take no more than 20–30 minutes.

Eye protection
Conical flasks, 100 cm 3 , x3
Measuring cylinder, 25 cm 3
Bunsen burner
Wooden splint
A bucket or bin for disposal of waste materials
Hydrogen peroxide solution, ‘5 volume’

Health, safety and technical notes

Read our standard health and safety guidance.
Wear eye protection throughout. Students must be instructed NOT to taste or eat any of the foods used in the experiment.
Hydrogen peroxide solution, H 2 O 2 (aq) – see CLEAPSS Hazcard HC050 and CLEAPSS Recipe Book RB045. Hydrogen peroxide solution of ‘5 volume’ concentration is low hazard, but it will probably need to be prepared by dilution of a more concentrated solution which may be hazardous.
Only small samples of liver, potato and celery are required. These should be prepared for the lesson ready to be used by students. A disposal bin or bucket for used samples should be provided to avoid these being put down the sink.
Measure 25 cm 3 of hydrogen peroxide solution into each of three conical flasks.
At the same time, add a small piece of liver to the first flask, a small piece of potato to the second flask, and a small piece of celery to the third flask.
Hold a glowing splint in the neck of each flask.
Note the time taken before each glowing splint is relit by the evolved oxygen.
Dispose of all mixtures into the bucket or bin provided.

Teaching notes

Some vegetarian students may wish to opt out of handling liver samples, and this should be respected.

Before or after the experiment, the term enzyme will need to be introduced. The term may have been met previously in biological topics, but the notion that they act as catalysts and increase the rate of reactions may be new. Similarly their nature as large protein molecules whose catalytic activity can be very specific to certain chemical reactions may be unfamiliar. The name catalase for the enzyme present in all these foodstuffs can be introduced.

To show the similarity between enzymes and chemical catalysts, the teacher may wish to demonstrate (or ask the class to perform as part of the class experiment) the catalytic decomposition of hydrogen peroxide solution by manganese(IV) oxide (HARMFUL – see CLEAPSS Hazcard HC060).

If students have not performed the glowing splint test for oxygen for some time, they may need reminding of how to do so by a quick demonstration by the teacher.

More resources

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Additional information

This is a resource from the Practical Chemistry project , developed by the Nuffield Foundation and the Royal Society of Chemistry.

Practical Chemistry activities accompany Practical Physics and Practical Biology .

11-14 years
14-16 years
16-18 years
Practical experiments
Biological chemistry

Specification

Enzymes act as catalysts in biological systems.
Factors which affect the rates of chemical reactions include: the concentrations of reactants in solution, the pressure of reacting gases, the surface area of solid reactants, the temperature and the presence of catalysts.
Describe the characteristics of catalysts and their effect on rates of reaction.
Recall that enzymes act as catalysts in biological systems.
7.6 Describe a catalyst as a substance that speeds up the rate of a reaction without altering the products of the reaction, being itself unchanged chemically and in mass at the end of the reaction
7.8 Recall that enzymes are biological catalysts and that enzymes are used in the production of alcoholic drinks
C6.2.4 describe the characteristics of catalysts and their effect on rates of reaction
C6.2.5 identify catalysts in reactions
C6.2.14 describe the use of enzymes as catalysts in biological systems and some industrial processes
C5.2f describe the characteristics of catalysts and their effect on rates of reaction
C5.2i recall that enzymes act as catalysts in biological systems
C6.2.13 describe the use of enzymes as catalysts in biological systems and some industrial processes
C5.1f describe the characteristics of catalysts and their effect on rates of reaction
C5.1i recall that enzymes act as catalysts in biological systems
B2.24 The action of a catalyst, in terms of providing an alternative pathway with a lower activation energy.
2.3.5 demonstrate knowledge and understanding that a catalyst is a substance which increases the rate of a reaction without being used up and recall that transition metals and their compounds are often used as catalysts;
7. Investigate the effect of a number of variables on the rate of chemical reactions including the production of common gases and biochemical reactions.