why is a test tube that only has enzyme solution and diluted water used as a control (the other test tube has catechol, enzyme, and diluted water). why is the one only with the enzyme used as a control (or why is it a control)?
i dont understand? just to prove that the enzyme reaction will still occur without the catechol?
2007-03-24 09:21:10 · 2 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Chemistry
If there's no substrate, then the enzyme has nothing to act upon. So, you can show that the TT w/ enzyme, substrate, and H2O reacts, while the control TT doesn't. You have eliminated a variable to make a control,
2007-03-24 09:25:18 · answer #1 · answered by Silly me 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Probably this reaction is monitored by absorption of light. The enzyme/water is there to account for absorption of light or color change caused by the enzyme alone - it is a protein and proteins do absorb light of certain wavelengths.
Perpaps more useful control would be water + catechol alone, to account for any reaction which is not catalyzed by the enzyme. It is probably oxidation and catechol itself will react with O2 and change color; just much more slowly than with enzyme.
2007-03-24 22:03:26 · answer #2 · answered by chem_star 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋