Hydrogen Peroxide and Liver Reaction Lab

Procedure:
1. A 10mL graduated cylinder was acquired. 2mL of hydrogen peroxide and 8mL of water to create a diluted hydrogen peroxide solution of 20%.
2. Step one was repeated for solutions of 30%, 40%, 50% and 60% concentrations of hydrogen peroxide.
3. An overflow pan was filled with water, and a 1L graduated cylinder filled with water was inverted into the pan. The amount of air in the graduated cylinder at the beginning was recorded.
4. 5 disks of liver was placed in a 20mL Erlenmeyer flask. A rubber stopper with a funnel and tubing that extends into the inverted 1L graduated cylinder.
5. The rubber stopper was placed in the flask, and the 20% hydrogen peroxide solution was poured into the funnel. The funnel was capped immediately, and the flask was shaken.
6. The amount of water that the oxygen gas displaced was recorded, and was subtracted from the original amount of air in the graduated cylinder to find the total amount of oxygen produced.
7. Steps 3-6 were repeated for the 30%, 40%, 50% and 60% solutions of hydrogen peroxide.
8. Station was cleaned, and equipment was put back.

Data Table:

Conclusion:
As the amount of substrate (hydrogen peroxide) increases in the diluted solution; the amount of oxygen gas produced in the reaction with the liver increases.


Sources of Errors:

• not immediately shaking the flask with the liver disks and the hydrogen peroxide
• different disks (sizes) of enzymes; some pieces were bigger/ with liver pieces stuck on it
• leftover water in the flask due to rinsing after each trial