Aim To investigate what affect the surface area of potato (raw) has on the production of oxygen. Introduction Plant cells in potato have an enzyme called catalase which turns bleach (H 2 O 2) hydrogen peroxide into O 2 and H 2 O. Catalase is the fastest working enzyme and is found in many living things, it speeds up the breakdown of hydrogen peroxide, and the bubbles released are O 2. The reaction taking place is 2 H 2 O 2 = 2 H 2 O + O 2.
Prediction I predict that the higher the surface, the more oxygen given off per unit time. This is because there is a larger amount of potato in contact with the hydrogen peroxide; this means there is a larger area for the hydrogen peroxide to crash into the enzyme molecules active site. This in turn means more oxygen will be given off. Apparatus The Apparatus needed to conduct this experiment is… o A Boiling Tube o A Delivery Tube (With Rubber Bung) o Potato o Measuring Cylinder o Clamp and Stand o Trough o Water o Stopwatch o Hydrogen Peroxide Method Firstly we gathered all the apparatus listed above and laid it out as shown in the diagram. Then we cut out a cube of potato weighing 3 g, and then we put it into 50 ml of Hydrogen Peroxide in a boiling tube.
Straight away the bung was replaced and we made sure the end of the delivery tube was under the measuring cylinder. We then started the stopwatch after connecting the apparatus and recorded how many ml of oxygen was displaced every 5 seconds. After recording the results, the next thing to do is repeat the experiment, except this time weigh out a 3 g cube of potato and then cut it into equal halves. Repeat again cutting a 3 g piece of potato into 4, 8, 16 and finally 32. We do this to increase the surface area of potato exposed to hydrogen peroxide. Variables The only thing that will be varied in this experiment is the surface area of the potato used; this is because we are testing to see if the surface area of potato has an effect on the production of oxygen.
The Term Paper on Surface Area Results Reaction Temperature
... for the hydrogen Peroxide o Mm for the length of the potato (as part of the surface area formula) o Cm cubed for the surface area to ... can observe that as surface area of the potato increases so does the volume of Oxygen. For example when the surface area was 5. 9 ... rate of reaction increasing because as I increase the surface area more oxygen will be released due to the catalytic reaction. However, ...
Everything else in our experiment will remain the same. The concentration and volume of Hydrogen Peroxide must remain the same as if these were changed there would be more H 2 O 2 atoms colliding with the potato, increasing the O 2 production. Also the temperature under which the experiment is conducted must be kept the same as the increase in temperature would give the H 2 O 2 atoms more energy meaning they collide more often. The mass of potato used must also remain the same as if the amount of potato is increased there will be more oxygen released as there is a larger surface area.
Safety The person conducting this experiment should wear goggles at all times and stand up for the experiment. This is because the hydrogen peroxide is corrosive and irritant, so if you are wearing goggles it prevents any damage or irritation to the eyes. Also if the person is standing up then if the peroxide is spilled it wont go on their legs, but on the floor.
