An enzyme is a protein produced by a living organism that acts as a catalyst is a substance that increases the rate of a chemical reaction without undergoing any permanent chemical change. Enzymes have an area with a specific shape, called the active site of the enzyme. The molecule on which the enzyme acts is called a substrate. After the reaction has taken place the products of the reaction leave the active site, leaving the enzyme ready for another reaction. The active site of an enzyme is so uniquely shaped that only one type of molecule can fit into it. This is why enzymes are specific to their substrate. Digestive enzymes break down food into small particles that are absorbed by the digestive system. These are the compounds used for fuel, repair and growth. Lactase is an enzyme that breaks down lactose, which is a sugar in milk, a disaccharide made up of glucose and galactose. Lactase is present in the mucus lining of the small intestine. Lactose intolerance develops when the small intestine does not produce enough of an enzyme called lactase. The body needs this enzyme to digest lactose. Lactase would help prevent gas, cramps and diarrhea for those who are lactose intolerant. The consumption of lactase is very advantageous for those who are lactose intolerant, they can take it as a supplement and it would therefore allow the lactose to be broken down and to be able to consume milk and its products without side effects. Sucrose was used in the experiments, the reason for this is that it is similar to glucose, it is a disaccharide made up of glucose and fructose. The purpose of the following experiments is to study whether the enzyme specificity and the effect of the environment on the function of lactase.. .... middle of paper ......lactase relative to the pH level. We hypothesized that enzyme functions are under the influence of environmental factors, in this particular experiment it is pH. In the results, pH 4 and 7 tubes produced color changes with pH 7 having the most mg/dl. The results proved our hypothesis, we were right in concluding that since the pH was between the pH where lactase is found, it would produce a reaction. The reason pH 7 produced more is because it is the closest pH to the small intestine where the lactase enzyme is found. The significance of the results is that the optimal pH for the biochemical reaction to occur is 7 and would produce the best breakdown of lactose. This fits into the bigger picture because it shows that everything must be in balance for a reaction to be successful.