Effect of Strong Acid on the Absorption Number Produced from benzoquinone

Group A

Abstract

Adding catecholase, mixed with a solution of distilled water, to catechol solution will produce benzoquinone. This experiment is measured by the use of a colorimeter which detects a change of absorption of light. This is useful because the colorimeter clearly reflects how much product, or benzoquinone in this case, is produced. Instead, adding catecholase, mixed with a pH 3 solution, to catechol will produce less benzoquinone. A rating of 3 in a pH scale is considered an acid. The catecholase solution with acid produced was measured to have a smaller absorption change. The change is achieved by using a base and then determining the difference. Regardless, a pH 3 solution was a poor solution if successful catalyst is to be achieved between catecholase and catechol. The absorption number change is dependent on a good pH level.

Introduction

The main reason for the experiment was the thought that a strong acid would either completely prevent catalyst or at least slow the reaction of benzoquinone. Enzymes need to thrive in a certain pH level or else catalyst may not happen. There is no set rule that says that all enzymes will react only when placed in distilled water which has a pH level of 7. This pH level usually is slightly acidic due to carbon dioxide in the air (Moore, 2012). Some enzymes may find water's pH level unacceptable and others enzymes may have no problem. In a test, three bacterium were tested for growth in different pH levels. Additionally, the extracellular activity was tested also. In all three cases, each bacterium had a level which was best for growth and levels that stopped growth (Greenman, 1982). This is cited to show that enzyme catalyst is dependent on pH levels. There are other variables that can stop, or slow, enzyme catalyst but