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Biology coursework- Factors that affect the rate of reaction caused by enzymes. Task We were asked to investigate on the various factors that would affect the rate of enzymes breaking down hydrogen peroxide into hydrogen and oxygen. We used potatoes as our source of enzymes. The rate of reaction is measured by the amount of gas produced in a certain amount of time. The equation of this reaction would be 2H2O2 - Catalase ¡æ O2 + H2 Hydrogen peroxide - Catalase ¡æ oxygen + hydrogen. The catalase does not get used up. Background knowledge What is an enzyme? Enzymes are a special form of protein, they Catalase reaction. Since it is a form of Catalyst, the enzyme itself does not get used up when used. Enzyme speeds up the speed of reaction in two ways, the firstly influence the stability of the bonds between the molecules, then it physically breaks down the molecule very much like a pair of glove fitting your hands. The reactant binds onto the enzyme on the active site, a part of the enzyme in which the enzyme is specifically shaped to only allow the specific type of molecule to fit in, therefore a different type of enzyme would have to be used to catalase a different reaction with different reactan