bio exam #2: amylase experiment

what is the role of amylase in the experiment?

amylase is an enzyme that breaks down starch into smaller sugars (maltose).

what indicates that starch is still present in the solution during the experiment?

if starch is present, iodine turns blue-black or dark brown.

what happens when starch is completely broken down by amylase?

when starch is gone, iodine stays light brown/yellow.

into what smaller sugars does amylase break down starch?

maltose

what is the original color of the iodine solution before reacting with starch?

light brown/yellow

what was tested in the first experiment regarding amylase?

the effect of temperature on amylase activity.

what conditions did the first experiment set for the test tubes?

five test tubes were kept at different temperatures with starch and amylase.

how does temperature affect amylase function according to the experiment results?

the faster the color stays yellow, the better the enzyme worked.

what was the focus of the second experiment?

how ph levels affect amylase activity.

what ph level is optimal for amylase activity?

amylase works best around ph 7 (neutral).

what happens to amylase at very low or very high ph levels?

amylase doesn’t work well at ph 3 (too acidic) or ph 9 (too basic).

what was investigated in the third experiment?

the effects of freezing and boiling on enzymatic activity of amylase.

what type of molecules are enzymes and what is their function?

enzymes are proteins that catalyze biochemical reactions.

what occurs to enzymes when exposed to extreme temperatures?

they may lose their shape and become inactive if too hot or too cold.

what is the significance of the iodine test in this experiment?

the iodine test indicates whether starch is still present, thus showing enzyme activity.