Hydrogen peroxide is a substance that is produced as a byproduct of many cell processes. However, hydrogen peroxide is toxic to cells. In fact, if cells are unable to break down hydrogen peroxide, they become poisoned and die. The chemical reaction for the breakdown of hydrogen peroxide is shown below.

What role does catalase play in this reaction?

In the reaction of decomposition of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), catalase is the enzyme responsible for catalyzing this reaction.

Explanation:

Catalase is an oxide-reductase enzyme whose substrate is H₂O₂, a potentially harmful by-product of metabolism.

The reaction that is mediated by catalase is:

                           H₂O₂ catalase--- → 2H₂O + O₂

where catalase is the enzyme that breaks the bond of the additional oxygen in the molecule to obtain H₂O and free O₂.

People with catalase deficiency may experience disorders and diseases due to the accumulation of H₂O₂ in the body.

ionic bonds are two oppositely charged ions that attract. a sodium ion has a 1 positive charge; a chloride ion has a 1 negative charge. sodium and chloride have oppostive charged ions that attract which forms an ionic bond. a chemical bond formed when two atoms share electrons is called