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ERIC Number: EJ1110470
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2016-Aug
Pages: 5
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0021-9584
EISSN: N/A
Investigating the Hydrolysis of Starch Using "a"-Amylase Contained in Dishwashing Detergent and Human Saliva
Munegumi, Toratane; Inutsuka, Masato; Hayafuji, Yukitaka
Journal of Chemical Education, v93 n8 p1401-1405 Aug 2016
Although saliva has commonly been used to teach about digestion by organisms, the phenomenon of digestion is actually caused by enzymes as catalytic substances. This activity explores the hydrolysis of starch by "a"-amylase in cleaning materials as well as a comparison with the similar reaction using human saliva. The fact that the "a"-amylase contained in the cleaning materials catalyzes hydrolysis of starch without saliva may remind students of the aspect of an enzyme as a chemical material. In addition, discovering the difference in the reactions between cleaning materials and human saliva at higher temperatures may be a useful educational approach for explaining the stability and denaturation of enzymes in an engaging way that deepens students' understanding.
Division of Chemical Education, Inc and ACS Publications Division of the American Chemical Society. 1155 Sixteenth Street NW, Washington, DC 20036. Tel: 800-227-5558; Tel: 202-872-4600; e-mail: eic@jce.acs.org; Web site: http://pubs.acs.org/jchemeduc
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Descriptive; Guides - Classroom - Teacher
Education Level: Secondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A