Detection of Catalase in potatoes

Detection of Catalase

Catalase  + H2O2  ----------------> water + oxygen

Catalase enzyme is usually found in every oxygen-dependent organism's cells, which catalyzes the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide into water and oxygen, transforming the lethal hydrogen peroxide which is produced normally from the metabolism carried out by our cells into non-lethal compounds ( water & oxygen)

Catalase not only decompose hydrogen peroxide, But compounds like hydrogen peroxides belongs to a category called ''Reactive oxygen species'' or ROS, they are oxidizing species of high energy, containing oxygen, unstable, easily react with other chemical compounds like our DNA damaging it, They are often radicals meaning they contain unpaired electrons such as H2O2, OH ( hydroxyl radical ), and superoxides.

They are produced by cleavage of water with ionizing radiation (ultraviolet and higher energies). They are also normally produced in cellular metabolism and immediately destroyed by other enzymes, but many pollutants, such as tobacco smoke, cause increase in their production - when more is produced than can be removed, they have time to cause DNA damage.

The bubbles produced are the oxygen molecules due to
decomposition of hydrogen peroxide

Tools

• Hydrogen peroxide bottle
• Test tube
• Dropper
• Small pieces of cut potato so they can fit inside the test tube

Procedures

1. Cut very small pieces the size of the test tube's diameter you are going to perform the test in so they can fit inside.
2. Use your dropper to take a few milliliters of hydrogen peroxide like 3 to 5 ml. 
3. Put the small pieces of potato inside the test tube then pour the content of the dropper inside and watch the reaction performed.

Potatoes are living plant tissue even when harvested so they do respire oxygen normally after being harvested so they have Catalase which when hydrogen peroxide is poured onto it, it will start to bind to the hydrogen peroxide forming a complex that will decompose the hydrogen peroxide to water and oxygen making it non-lethal.

I hope you gentlemen and ladies find this informative and if you do please do share it with your science buds and follow my blog for new topics.

I will upload a complete video explaining all the steps in case you find something difficult or how you going to perform this test at home - so the video COMING SOON...

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