A Laboratory Experiment Investigating Different Aspects of Catalase Activity in an Inquiry - Based Approach

The action of the enzyme catalase on aqueous hydrogen peroxide to generate oxygen gas is a well-established demonstration. Catalase is typically obtained by aqueous extraction of a potato, and the potato extract is mixed together with 3% hydrogen peroxide. The oxygen that is produced can be collected over water. Variations on the procedure can demonstrate the dependence of catalytic activity on temperature or the presence of inhibitors.