Yeast Lab

By Julia Curtiss
 Abstract
The purpose of this experiment was to show whether different concentration of
hydrogen peroxide affect enzyme activity and the rate of reaction. The results
showed that as the concentration of hydrogen peroxide was increased, the rate at
which the yeast balls rose to the surface of also increased. The lowest concentration,
0.12% took an average of 1 minute and 10 seconds for the yeast sphere to rise
whereas the 0.9% (highest concentration) took about 12 seconds for the yeast
sphere to rise to the surface. The rate at which the yeast spheres rise is directly
correlated to the concentration of hydrogen peroxide since the higher the
concentration, the faster they rise.
Introduction
Enzymes are globular proteins, responsible for most of the chemical activities of living
organisms (they act as catalysts, substances that speed up chemical reactions without being
destroyed or altered during the process). H2O2 is toxic to most living organisms. Many
organisms are capable of enzymatically destroying the H2O2 before it can do much damage.
H2O2 can be converted to oxygen and water, as follows (image). Although this reaction occurs
spontaneously, enzymes increase the rate considerably. At least two different enzymes are
known to catalyze this reaction: catalase, found in animals and protists, and peroxidase, found
in plants. At the start of the reaction, there is no product, and the pressure is the same as the
atmospheric pressure. After a short time, oxygen accumulates at a rather constant rate. As the
peroxide is destroyed, less of it is available to react and the O2 is produced at lower rates.
 Predictions
The yeast sphere in the 0.9% H2O2 solution will rise at a faster rate than the yeast
sphere in the 0.12% H2O2 solution.

Hypothesis: if the concentration of hydrogen peroxide is increased then the yeast

spheres will rise at a faster rate because the reaction will catalyze quicker due to
more enzymes being present. The more enzymes present, the quicker the reaction
will occur.
 Methods
10 mL of varying hydrogen peroxide were placed into different
test tubes (there were four test tubes total with their own
hydrogen peroxide concentration and one test tube testing
water as the control). Three yeast spheres were obtained for
each test tube. Starting with the lowest concentration drop the
yeast spheres individually into the hydrogen peroxide solution.
Start the timer from the time you let drop the yeast ball in and
stop it when the yeast sphere has just risen and touched the
surface. Record the data and repeat with the same
concentration with the two remaining yeast spheres. Then do it
again with the other concentrations of H2O2.
Results
 Conclusion
The rate at which the yeast spheres rose was fastest at 0.9% hydrogen peroxide
solution. All three yeast spheres rose to the surface within 12 seconds. This was the
quickest rate at which the yeast spheres reacted when compared to the 0.12%
hydrogen peroxide solution which took an average of 70 seconds for the yeast
spheres to react with the hydrogen peroxide. As hydrogen peroxide increases (the
enzyme) the faster the yeast spheres (the substrate) will catalyze and rise to the
surface of the solution due to more enzymes being present to catalyst the reaction
between yeast spheres and hydrogen peroxide. The yeast spheres rise to the surface
because a product of this reaction is oxygen and oxygen is a gas making it less sense
than the solution causing it to float.