Hydrogen peroxide is produced as waste during metabolism. Cells produce the enzyme catalase to increase the rate at which hydrogen peroxide is broken down into water and oxygen gas. Students in a laboratory class conducted an investigation of how temperature affects catalase activity. The students followed the steps below.
Add 10 mL of hydrogen peroxide to each of four test tubes.
Prepare a solution of catalase at a temperature of 20°C, and heat samples of the solution to 40°C, 60°C, and 80°C.
Add 1 mL of each catalase sample to one of the four samples of hydrogen peroxide.
Measure the volume of oxygen gas produced over ten minutes.
The results of the experiment are shown in the table below.
The results of the experiment are shown in the table below.
A.
Catalase activity increases above 40°C because the enzyme's structure is altered by lower temperatures.
B.
Catalase activity decreases above 40°C because the enzyme's structure is altered by higher temperatures.
C.
Catalase activity decreases above 40°C because the enzyme binds to oxygen less easily.
D.
Catalase activity increases above 40°C because the enzyme binds to hydrogen peroxide more easily.