What kind of reaction is it when you put a potato in hydrogen peroxide?
What are my choices? You could mean oxidation/reduction or physical/chemical or in number of other choices. My guess is you want to know if it is a chemical or physical change. It is a chemical change because the peroxide is being decomposed into H2O and O2. The bubbles are O2 gas.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RY0aHmyo98E
When you put a potato in hydrogen peroxide, it results in an exothermic reaction known as the catalase reaction. Here's how you can understand and explain this reaction:
1. Gather the necessary materials: You will need a fresh potato, hydrogen peroxide (typically 3% concentration), a cutting board, a knife, and a container for observation.
2. Cut the potato into small pieces: Start by cutting the potato into smaller chunks or slices. This increases the surface area, allowing for more efficient reaction.
3. Pour hydrogen peroxide into the container: Take your container and pour a sufficient amount of hydrogen peroxide into it. Make sure the container is large enough to accommodate the potato pieces.
4. Add the potato to the hydrogen peroxide: Carefully put the potato pieces into the hydrogen peroxide in the container. Observe the reaction that takes place.
5. Observe the reaction: As soon as the potato comes in contact with the hydrogen peroxide, you should notice bubbling and foaming occurring. This reaction happens due to the presence of an enzyme called catalase in potatoes.
6. Explanation of the reaction: The bubbling and foaming you observe is a result of the catalase enzyme breaking down the hydrogen peroxide into water (H2O) and oxygen gas (O2). Hydrogen peroxide is a strong oxidizing agent, and immediate decomposition would occur even without catalase. However, catalase speeds up this process dramatically, making the reaction more noticeable.
Catalase is found in various living organisms, including plants and animals, and its main role is to protect cells from the toxic effects of hydrogen peroxide by breaking it down into harmless substances.
In the case of the potato, the catalase enzyme reacts with the hydrogen peroxide and catalyzes its decomposition into water and oxygen gas. The release of oxygen gas creates the bubbles and foaming that you observe.
Please note that safety precautions should be taken while conducting experiments with chemicals. Make sure to wear appropriate protective gear and follow guidelines to avoid any accidents.