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Salivary amylase on the starch at different temperatures and 3 different pHs can be explained by performing this experiment. It is the action of salivary amylase on the starch at different temperatures and different pH. Food gives us energy when the food molecules get digested inside our digestive system. The complex starch gets divided into simple molecules and with the combination of CO2 the same converts into glycolysis. It is the enzyme in the saliva that helps in the digestion of food. That enzyme is scientifically called salivary amylase helps the starch to disaccharide. It is the pancreatic amylase that performs the complete digestion function. The enzyme functioning gets affected by temperature and ph which is identified in this experimental procedure.
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Read More: Concepts in Chemistry
Key Terms: Salivary Amylase, Starch, Glycolysis, Digestive System,Enzyme
Aim of the Experiment
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To study the effect of different temperatures & 3 different pHs on the activity of salivary amylase on starch.
Requirements
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- Test tubes
- Water
- Droppers
- Thermometer
- Saliva solution
- Iodine solution
- Water with beaker
- 10ml starch solution with NaCl
- Three different test tubes with iodine solution
- Wire gauze
- Bunsen burner
- Ice tubes
- pH Tablets
- 15ml 1% starch solution and 3ml 1% NaCl.
- Thermometerr5
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Process of Experiment to Explain the pH Effect on Salivary Amylase
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The first step is to prepare the starch solution. Take 100 distilled water in the 100ml bottle. Add 10 gm of starch to that 100 ml water and measure the starch before putting it in. Dissolve the starch in the 100 email water and mix it properly to make the solution. Salivary Amylase is the enzyme that is present in our saliva. The function of salivary amylase is to break down the starch. Generally, it is known that if starch is verified with the iodine solution, we can understand its effectiveness well.

pH of Different Enzymes
- You need a 15ml 1% starch solution beaker along with 3ml 1% NaCl solution. Then divide the solution into the three taken tubes and identify the tubes as A, b, and C
- Then use pH tablets on the solutions to mark their effects. Add 5 pH tablets in the first tube A, 6.8 pH tablets in the second tube B, and 8 pH tablets in the third tube C. then transfer the same into the tube where the temperature of 37-degree Celsius is maintained. Keep measuring the temperature with a thermometer.
- Use a dropper to add saliva solution to the solution placed at three different tubes at the same temperature but three different pH levels.
- Then add iodine solution to these three tubes to record its effect.
- Note the effects of the tube and change the color of the mix immediately. Then leave the tubes for the next two minutes and mix the iodine drops again to observe the second effect on the mix. You will notice that the color of the mix will change into pale yellow.
- Then either leave the test tubes for another few minutes and repeat the process to observe the effect. the mix will show no color change.
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Observation of the Experiment
The salivary amylase will function differently in these tubes because of different pH levels. pH 5 gives an acidic reaction and pH 8 gives an alkaline reaction. Due to the lowest and the highest range, the salivary amylase functions differently. Moreover, the best pH for enzymes to function is 6.8 which is not highly acidic but has an average acid reaction. Therefore, at this level, the starch gets digested inside the stomach fast and easily.
Process of Experiment to Explain the Temperature Effect On Salivary Amylase
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The experiment can be performed under different temperatures. To perform the activity of salivary amylase at different temperatures one needs to cap the test tubes in which the starch solutions were added with salivary amylase and iodine.
- You need a 15ml 1% starch solution beaker along with 3ml 1% NaCl solution. Then divide the solution into the three taken tubes to place under different temperatures. One beaker should have ice cubes to record the lowest temperature of at least 5-degree Celsius.
- Place the other two beakers at the burner to get it at temperature 37-degree Celcius and around 50-degree Celsius.
- Use a dropper to add saliva solution to the iced mix tube and the ones that are placed at 37-degree Celsius and 50-degree Celsius.
- Then add iodine solution to these three tubes to record its effect.
- Note the effects of the tube and change the color of the mix immediately. Then leave the tubes for the next two minutes and mix the iodine drops again to observe the second effect on the mix. You will notice that the color of the mix will change into pale yellow.
- Then either leave the test tubes for another few minutes and repeat the process to observe the effect. The mix will show no color change.
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Observation of Experiment
After a few minutes when you look at the test tubes left at the three different temperatures you get to see that the test tube which was capped at 37 degrees Celsius has shown the maximum performance. The color must have changed to pale yellow. It means that the salivary amylase has worked on the starch and it has broken down the starch.
Again if you come back for the remaining two tubes after one hour, you will get to see that the test tube which was capped at 5 degrees Celsius has also shown color change. But even after one hour, the test tube capped at the highest temperature of 50 degrees Celsius will not show any color change. The reason is at high temperatures the proteins or the enzymes of the solution get degraded. The enzymes will show their highest level of activity at high temperatures and will digest the food in less time.
Read more: Catalysts
Things to Remember
- The dissolution of starch can be understood from the experimental effects of salivary amylase and iodine.
- 37 degrees Celsius is the optimum temperature for this experiment.
- Enzymes get segregated at high temperatures because they are a kind of protein.
- If the solution turns into pale yellow or orange, it means the digestion of starch is complete.
- Salivary Amylase is also popular in the name of ptyalin.
Sample Questions
Ques. Why is iodine used for the starch molecule Slip? (2 marks)
Ans. Iodine is used for a molecular slip because it can change the color of the starch. It is a kind of enzyme that has strong catalyst power to dissolve the starch elements. The reason is at high temperatures the proteins or the enzymes of the solution get degraded. The enzymes will not show their activity at high temperatures. It will degrade the starch into the disaccharide.
Ques. What do you mean by enzymes? (2 marks)
Ans. It is a kind of biocatalyst that has a higher metabolic reaction in the living bodies. The enzymes are known as protein and they do not change even after the complete process of the reaction. The enzymes and the catalyst do not change at the end of the experiment and this is what makes them similar. The rate of reaction and the energy is increased by the enzymes and thus it is used for the experiment.
Ques. Compare the characteristics of catalysts and enzymes. (2 marks)
Ans.
- Both of them do not change at the end of the reaction and have the capacity to change the other form of substrates.
- It can break down the products when kept at the desired temperature. This catalyst or enzyme does not last for long.
- Catalyst or enzyme does not change the equilibrium of the reaction. If the reversible reaction takes place the status remains the same.
Ques. State the differences between enzymes and hormones. (2 marks)
Ans.
- Enzymes are only proteins and the hormones can be protein or lipids both.
- Enzymes do not target any organ of the body but the catalyst always targets any one part of the body.
- Enzymes will work at the defined temperature but catalysts can work at any temperature depending on the type of experiment.
Ques. Why is boiling starch solution important? (2 marks)
Ans. The two components of the starch named inner core and the overcoat are required to be separated. Amylase has higher solubility in water and thus when dissolved in the water it has the capacity of separating the outer coat and the inner core. If the water is boiled the covers dissolve and the starch forms easily stop furthermore, the experiment should be conducted between the normal temperature of 5 degrees Celsius to 50 degrees Celsius because if it goes above this said Celsius then neither the color will change nor the start will get segregated. The best temperature for experimenting is 37-degree Celsius.
Ques. Explain the effects of pH on salivary amylase. (2 marks)
Ans. The pH enzyme should not exceed 7. Above this range, the reaction will not take place efficiently. The effective pH level is 6.8. You must know that the stomach possesses the highest acidity level that can change the reaction of salivary amylase. So, when the salivary amylase enters the body it gets dissolved within the acidic system of the stomach and does not function much. Therefore, for completing this experiment salivary amylase is much required at the desired pH level.
Ques. What can be the outcome of the salivary amylase experiment if the pH level is different? (2 marks)
Ans. The salivary amylase will not perform properly in the tubes if the pH level is different. As you already know, the effective temperature for conducting this experiment is 37 degrees Celsius at a 6.8 pH level. If the same is disturbed suppose pH level 5 or pH level 8 then the color change will not take place effectively and the start will not degenerate. Again, the test tube at 37 degrees Celsius will show the first reaction and the rest will show the reaction a little late but the one at pH level 8 will not show any genuine reaction within time.
Ques. Explain the outcome if the starch gets completely dissolved in the tubes during the experiment. (2 marks)
Ans.
- Due to the presence of iodine, the color will get converted into black or blue.
- When it is further added with the start it will change its color to pale yellow from black or blue.
- If it gets an orangish color, it means the sugar within the starch gets degenerated and iodine gets dissolved. The enzyme reacts much earlier and segregates the saliva.
Ques. What will be the observation if the salivary amylase is left at different temperatures apart from 37-degree celsius? (2 marks)
Ans. At 37-degree Celsius, it breaks down the starch into the disaccharide and the remaining 2 test tubes at the two different temperatures will show the least activity of salivary amylase. If the test tubes are capped at 20 degrees Celsius it also shows the color change. But even after one hour the test tube capped at the highest temperature, say 70 degrees Celsius, will not show any color change. The reason is at high temperatures the proteins or the enzymes of the solution get degraded. The enzymes will not show their activity at high temperatures.
Ques. Name the main requirements for experimenting. (2 marks)
Ans. The requirements are as follows:
- Test tubes
- Water
- Droppers
- Thermometer
- Saliva solution
- Iodine solution
- 10ml starch solution with NaCl
- pH Tablets
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