Research Question: What effects do different pH levels have on the reaction rate of the enzyme? Basic information: Catalysis is the increase in the rate of chemical reactions due to the participation of catalysts. Catalysts are substances that cause catalysis. An example of this is enzymes. Enzymes are proteins that accelerate the rate of a chemical reaction of substrates. The substrates will be broken down or transformed into products with the help of enzymes. It is often said that enzymes and substrates fit together like a “lock and key model” because each enzyme has exactly one corresponding type of substrates. This is due to the shape of the substrates and the activation sites of the enzymes. Only a specific substrate will bind to a specific enzyme due to the shape of the activation site. A different substrate does not fit into an enzyme, just as the wrong key does not fit into a lock. However, enzymes are not able to function at their best under any circumstances. Since the activity of the enzyme is influenced by environmental conditions, changing conditions can alter the reaction rate of the enzyme. Of course, the maximum reaction rate would be produced under the optimal environmental conditions of the enzyme. For example, pepsin works best in a highly acidic environment because the acidic environment is pepsin's preferred condition, allowing it to function best. There are three different factors that influence the rate of chemical reactions: temperature, pH level, and enzyme and substrate concentration. At its optimal temperature, the enzyme will function best. The same goes for the other two factors. This lab will focus on one of them: the pH level. More specifically, the ratio of the pH at which the...... middle of paper......8. (Indicates the pH level tested).5. Choose a number from above.6. Take 3 test tubes to test a pH level (the one you chose from step 3).7. Use a graduated cylinder to measure out 3 ml of H2O2.8. Pour into one of the test tubes.9. Measure and pour 3 ml of H2O2 into the remaining 2 test tubes.10. Prepare 10 ml of the desired pH (should be the same as in step 3).11. Use a clean graduated cylinder to measure 3 ml of step 10.12. Pour into the tube from step 8.13. Use the pipette to drop approximately 2-3 drops of the enzyme into the same test tube.14. Repeat step 13 with the remaining two tubes of the same pH.15. Wait 3 minutes for the reaction to occur.16. Observe and measure, using a ruler, the height of the O2 gas produced by the reaction.17. Repeat steps 5-15, but with a different number for step 5.18. Repeat step 17, with the last number (pH level).