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Laundry powder is sometimes advertised as containing powerful enzymes that break down dirt - VCE - SSCE Biology - Question 23 - 2010 - Paper 1
Question 23
Laundry powder is sometimes advertised as containing powerful enzymes that break down dirt. These enzymes are called exoenzymes. They come from some species of bacte... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:Laundry powder is sometimes advertised as containing powerful enzymes that break down dirt - VCE - SSCE Biology - Question 23 - 2010 - Paper 1
Step 1
the best enzyme to add to the laundry powder would be
Answer
To determine the most suitable enzyme for laundry powder, we need to evaluate the optimal temperature and pH for each enzyme listed in the table. The ideal enzyme should function efficiently at typical laundry temperatures (generally around 30°C to 60°C) and a neutral to slightly alkaline pH (around 7 to 10).
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Enzyme J (Psychrobacter sp.): Optimal temperature of 10-30°C and optimal pH of 7.0-9.0.
- This enzyme is suitable because it can work at cooler temperatures, but it might be less effective at higher laundry temperatures.
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Enzyme K (Pseudomonas sp.): Optimal temperature of 40°C and optimal pH of 10.0.
- This enzyme operates at a higher temperature, which is appropriate for most laundry cycles, but it requires a more alkaline environment.
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Enzyme L (Methanococcus sp.): Optimal temperature of 120°C and optimal pH of 5.0-8.0.
- This enzyme is not suitable, as it functions best at excessively high temperatures that exceed typical laundry conditions.
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Enzyme M (Cystofilobasidium): Optimal temperature of 40-42°C and optimal pH of 5.0.
- While it operates at a temperature suitable for laundry, its pH preference is more acidic, making it less ideal.
Based on the evaluation, Enzyme K (Pseudomonas sp.) would be the best choice for laundry powder as it operates effectively within the common temperature range used in washing and has an optimal pH that can be achieved in most cleaning solutions.