6/26/24, 10:38 PM Enzyme activity and eggs

BROWSE BY DISCIPLINE  PRODUCT RESOURCES  TEACHING & LEARNING  VIDEOS SAFETY WHO WE ARE       

Activities AP Biology Biology

Eggsploring Enzymes Activity

Enzymes are specialized biological catalysts that complete biological work within cells. In this activity, SEARCH

students investigate the effect of pepsin, a protease, on albumin, an abundance protein in animal cells.
Pepsin, an enzyme found in the digestive tracts of animals, catalyzes the digestion of food proteins into Type and hit enter...

peptides containing essential amino acids. The rate at which enzymes function is influenced by several
factors, including environmental temperature, environmental pH, ion concentration, presence of inhibitory
chemicals, and concentrations of the enzyme or its substrate. ABOUT US

Materials

6 Test Tubes (item #731054)

Test Tube Rack (item #731984)

Lab Burner (item #706714)

.1 M Hydrochloric Acid Solution (item #867821)

Albumin Suspension (see “Teacher preparation” section below)

Pepsin Solution, 1%uses

This website (item #879377)
cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Accept Read More

https://knowledge.carolina.com/discipline/life-science/biology/eggsploring-enzymes-activity/ 1/5
6/26/24, 10:38 PM Enzyme activity and eggs
Syringe (item #697771)

Beaker, 250 mL (item #731009 for water bath)

Hot Plate (item #701013 for water bath)

Thermometer (item #745413)

Distilled Water

Teacher preparation

1. Prepare an albumin suspension by separating egg whites (albumin) from yolks and adding 20 mL of
distilled water to the albumin. You can use 1 egg for every 4 lab groups.
2. Prepare 0.1 M hydrochloric acid solution and 1% pepsin solution. To prepare your 1% pepsin solution,
dissolve 0.1 g of powdered pepsin in 9.9 mL of distilled water.

Safety
Carolina Biological Supply
This activity requires the use of hazardous components. Be sure to review all district and department
guidelines involving the use of the materials listed above.
We began as a vision of what a science
Procedure could be, and 95 years later, we still em
that future-focused visionary perspec
1. Label 5 test tubes “1,” “2,” “3,” “4,” and “5.”
2. Place about 5 mL of egg white (albumin) suspension into each test tube.
3. Add 3 drops of dilute hydrochloric acid to tubes 3 and 4.
KEEP IN TOUCH
4. Using a syringe, place 1 mL of 1% pepsin solution in a clean test tube and heat it over a small Bunsen
flame until the liquid boils. Add the boiled pepsin to the egg white suspension in tube 5.
    
5. Fill the 250-mL beaker halfway with water. Place the beaker on a hot plate to prepare a water bath that
will sustain a temperature of about 40° C.
6. Add 1 mL of 1% pepsin solution to tubes 2 and 4 only.
SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER
7. Place all 5 tubes in the water bath for 5 minutes.
8. After 5 minutes, remove the tubes from the water bath and replace them in the test tube rack.
Enter your email address*
Compare the appearance of the contents and fill in your table of results.

Carolina Biological Supply Company uses coo

Data Table
provide you with a great user experience. By
site, you accept our use of cookies. You can r
Tube Contents Results
our cookie and privacy policy here.You may a
unsubscribe from these communications at an
1 Egg white suspension only

2 Egg white suspension + pepsin Subscribe

3 Egg white suspension + HCI

4 Egg white suspension + pepsin + HCI FEATURED CATEGORIES

5 Egg white suspension + boiled pepsin Activities

Advanced Placement Resources

Sample Data Table*

Anatomy & Physiology

Tube Contents Results (expected)

Biology Topics

1 Egg white suspension only Milky appearance

Buying Guides

2 Egg white suspension + pepsin Cloudy

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Accept Read More

https://knowledge.carolina.com/discipline/life-science/biology/eggsploring-enzymes-activity/ 2/5
6/26/24, 10:38 PM Enzyme activity and eggs
Dissection Resources
3 Egg white suspension + HCI Milky appearance

Carolina Essentials
4 Egg white suspension + pepsin + HCI Clear

Workshops & Webinars

5 Egg white suspension + boiled pepsin Milky appearance

TOPICS
*results will vary

Conclusion ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE DISSECTION RESOU

NSTA NGSS WISCONSIN FAST PLANTS

The suspension turns from a cloudy, milky appearance to clear as pepsin, a protease, breaks down the
albumin. Students should observe that pepsin appears to function more effectively at an acidic pH when WORKSHOP RESOURCES AP BIOLOGY

compared with the other groups. Tube 4 models conditions present in the stomachs of animals during BIOTECHNOLOGY PHYSICAL SCIENCE AN

digestion. The results of this investigation should lead students to additional questions regarding the EDUCATORS ELEMENTARY
conditions under which enzymes are able to function.
CAROLINA ESSENTIALS CHEMISTRY

Extensions LIFE SCIENCE COLLEGE MIDDLE SCHOOL

1. Students can design an experiment to show how enzyme activity is influenced by other factors (such BIOLOGY ACTIVITY HIGH SCHOOL

as temperature, light, or competing chemicals).

2. Students can design an experiment to test the effect of antacid products on the digestion of proteins
in the stomach.

Buy the Kit

ACTIVITY AP BIOLOGY

0    

Author Profile Posts by the Author

CAROLINA STAFF

Carolina is teamed with teachers and continually provides valuable resources–

articles, activities, and how-to videos–to help teachers in their classroom.

     

previous post next post

Exploring Plant Pigments The Genome Age: Exploring Human Variation and
Evolution

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Accept Read More

https://knowledge.carolina.com/discipline/life-science/biology/eggsploring-enzymes-activity/ 3/5
6/26/24, 10:38 PM Enzyme activity and eggs

Three-Point Linkage with Wisconsin Fast Plants Grower’s Lumbriculus: Contraction Rate of
Drosophila Calendar the Dorsal Blood Vessel
May 14, 2024 May 8, 2024 May 7, 2024

LEAVE A COMMENT

Your Comment

Name* Email* Website

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

I'm not a robot

reCAPTCHA
Privacy - Terms

* By using this form you agree with the storage and handling of your data by this website.

SUBMIT

Subscribe to Newsletter
Sign up for free resources delivered to your inbox!

Enter your email address*

Carolina Biological Supply Company uses cookies to provide you with a great user experience. By using our site, you
accept our use of cookies. You can review our cookie and privacy policy here.You may also unsubscribe from these
communications at any time.

Subscribe

FEATURES GET STARTED

Biology Topics School Year Planning

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with
Buying this, but you can opt-out if you wish.
Guides Accept Read More
Dissection Resources

https://knowledge.carolina.com/discipline/life-science/biology/eggsploring-enzymes-activity/ 4/5
6/26/24, 10:38 PM Enzyme activity and eggs
Advanced Placement Carolina Essentials
Carolina Correlations Activities
Carolina 3D Workshops
Video Library

COMPANY CONTACT US
Shop  800.334.5551
Who We Are
 [email protected]
Our Brands
2700 York Rd, Burlington,
Privacy & Security  NC 27215-3398
Rep Login
 Get Help

     

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Accept Read More

https://knowledge.carolina.com/discipline/life-science/biology/eggsploring-enzymes-activity/ 5/5